In a historic move for competitive gaming, the 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG) 2025, scheduled from October 22 to 31 in Bahrain, will feature esports as an official medal event for the first time. The games will include eFootball, Street Fighter, and Rocket League, with competitions in both boys’ and girls’ categories, making it a landmark moment for youth esports across Asia.
Organized under the guidance of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF), these PC-based titles will be open to athletes aged 15 to 18 years as of December 31, 2025. This strategic inclusion places esports alongside 23 other traditional sports, officially legitimizing competitive gaming on the international multi-sport stage.
The inclusion of PC titles at AYG 2025 presents a major opportunity for India to nurture and grow its grassroots esports infrastructure. Earlier this year, India saw promising developments when the Khelo India Youth Games introduced BGMI, eFootball, Street Fighter 6, and chess as demonstration sports, opening new avenues for young talent.
With such platforms emerging, Indian gamers now have a more defined pathway to enter the competitive esports scene. This move could significantly reshape the landscape of Indian esports, shifting attention from casual mobile gaming to organized, skill-based PC gaming.
India’s esports growth is also being championed by powerhouse organizations like S8UL, which is set to represent the country at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, participating in eight different esports titles. The organization has played a key role in elevating India’s esports reputation globally.
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, expressed his excitement about esports’ inclusion in AYG 2025:
“It’s a proud moment to see esports take the global stage at the Asian Youth Games with titles like Street Fighter, eFootball, and Rocket League being officially recognised. This is just the beginning for the players, community and for the future of competitive gaming… This recognition will inspire a whole new generation of talent and help shape the path ahead for esports not just in India, but across Asia.”
The focus on PC-based titles marks a major shift for Indian esports, traditionally dominated by mobile gaming. However, the tide is turning, with tech players like CyberPowerPC India leading the charge. The company, which recently collaborated with Orangutan Esports to outfit their gaming facility ApeCity, is helping build cutting-edge esports infrastructure in India.
Vishal Parekh, COO of CyberPowerPC India, shared,
“It’s exciting to see prominent PC titles take centre stage at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025… For India, this is an opportunity to double down on building a more inclusive and performance-ready grassroots ecosystem.”
Beyond the Asian Youth Games, esports will also feature as official medal events at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where 11 esports titles are set to be contested. India, which previously competed in four titles during the 2022 Asian Games, is gearing up for an even stronger showing.
Pravan Parikh, Co-Founder of Dirtcube Interactive LLP, which developed the innovative gaming backend platform Specter, commented on the milestone:
“The inclusion of esports at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 is a landmark moment for young gamers in India… opening up fresh opportunities for skill development, talent discovery, and long-term career growth.”
As India prepares for AYG 2025, the recognition of esports at this scale signals a major evolution. With greater visibility, institutional support, and world-class infrastructure, India is well-positioned to transition from a mobile-first gaming country to a global esports powerhouse. The inclusion of esports in major sporting events is no longer just symbolic—it’s a gateway for Indian youth to enter the global arena as serious contenders.