ESports
OCA expands Esports titles for 2026 Asian Games to 11
At the Hangzhou Asian Games, where esports made its debut, seven Esports were part of the roaster.
Esports made its debut at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) expanded Esports titles to 11 from 7 for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, giving an impetus to India’s chances of increasing its medal tally.
The OCA Executive Board approved the expanded list. The new list included Street Fighter 6, Pokemon Unite, Honor of Kings, League of Legends – Asian Games Version, PUBG – Asian Games Version, Mobile Legends – Bang Bang, Naraka: Bladepoint, Gran Turismo 7, eFootball Series, and Puyo Puyo Champions as medal events in the 2026 Games.
At the Hangzhou Asian Games, where esports made its debut, seven Esports were part of the roaster.
India competed in four - DOTA 2, FIFA Online 4, Street Fighter V, and League of Legends - while other titles, including PUBG and Mobile Legends, were banned in the country.
In the newly approved list, six new titles were added while two from the Hangzhou Asian Games were dropped.
Welcoming the announcement, Lokesh Suji, director of Esports Federation of India (ESFI) and vice president of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF), said, “the OCA’s decision to expand the Esports program to 11 titles is a tremendous boost for India. Not only does this increase our chances of winning a medal at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, but it also paves the way for greater awareness and participation in new titles among our youth.”
