The 3rd Asian Youth Games will be held in Bahrain from October 22 to 31, featuring 24 sports, including esports as a medal event for the first time.
eFootball, Street Fighter, and Rocket League will be contested in boys’ and girls’ categories. The competitions are open to athletes aged 15 to 18 as of December 31, 2025, and will be governed by the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF).
The inclusion of these PC-based esports titles presents a promising opportunity for India to develop its esports ecosystem at the grassroots level. Earlier this year, esports made significant strides nationally when the Khelo India Youth Games featured titles such as BGMI, Street Fighter 6, eFootball, and chess as demonstration sports. With continued exposure at events of this scale, young gamers from across the country now have clearer pathways to enter competitive esports.
S8UL will represent India at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, competing across eight titles and marking the country’s participation on the global stage.
S8UL CEO & co-founder Animesh Agarwal said, “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. As someone who’s grown with this industry, seeing young athletes now get this platform at such a prestigious multi-sport event feels incredibly special, it’s history in the making. 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.”
All three Esports titles at AYG 2025 are PC-based, signaling a shift in India’s gaming landscape, which has traditionally been dominated by mobile gaming. Interest in PC gaming is rising, supported by investments in infrastructure. CyberPowerPC India, which entered the market last year, recently partnered with Orangutan to equip its gaming facility, ApeCity, with high-performance PCs.
CyberPowerPC India COO Vishal Parekh commented, “It’s exciting to see prominent PC titles take centre stage at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025, a clear sign that competitive gaming in Asia is evolving in the right direction. Globally, PC has always been a benchmark for esports, and this moment places Asia firmly on that map. For India, this is an opportunity to double down on building a more inclusive and performance-ready grassroots ecosystem. By creating accessible spaces like our PC installation at Ape City, we’re helping young gamers experience top-tier hardware and realize their potential without the barriers. This milestone isn’t just validation; it’s motivation to keep growing the next generation of esports athletes.”
The Asian Youth Games isn’t the only platform where esports is gaining prominence. Esports will also feature at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, scheduled for next year, where 11 esports titles will be official medal events. India had earlier competed in four titles at the Asian Games 2022, and the country is now gearing up for a stronger showing in its next campaign.
Dirtcube Interactive LLP co-founder & product lead Pravan Parikh added, “The inclusion of esports at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 is a landmark moment for young gamers in India. It brings structure and recognition to a dream that many aspiring players have long held. Crucially, this move gives PC gaming a significant boost in a market where mobile has historically been dominant, opening up fresh opportunities for skill development, talent discovery, and long-term career growth. It’s an encouraging sign that esports is finally being embraced as a serious discipline within the larger sporting ecosystem.”
As India prepares to compete at the AYG 2025, the recognition of esports alongside traditional sports is becoming increasingly mainstream. With growing investment, improved infrastructure, and stronger national representation, India is on the path to becoming not just a participant but a serious contender in global esports.
