infowebsite.in
News9Live caught up with Global Esports Federation CEO Paul Foster to understand their plans on enhancing Esports in the country. The Australian-based sports administrator explained how they aim to dispel the notion that Esports isn’t a skillful domain as seen in mainstream sports.
Group of Indian Esports Gamers compete during the Red Bull M.E.O. (left) and Global Esports Federation CEO Paul Foster in India (right). (Photo: Getty Images/Special Arrangement).
New Delhi: Gaming has seen a massive growth in India in less than a decade, revolutionising a path for Esports, a term alien to many of us during our youth days. The rise in Esports (competitive video gaming) market can be attributed to many factors such as healthy internet connectivity, advance technology for gamers, bolstering social community for gamers, beeline streaming facilities on YouTube and Twitch, leading to lucrative sponsorship deals, high-stakes competitions.
India is the largest gaming market with over 568 million users (gamers) and more than 9.5 billion gaming applications downloaded in the year 2023, as per a report by The Economic Times. This has tempted the Global Esports Federation (GEF) to sign a 10-year Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) with Skillhub Online Games Federation (SOGF), a leading Esports federation in India, though yet to be recognised by the Sports Ministry.
“India is a very exciting market. An enormous country of population. Knowledge, skill and capability which is seen in the young population that enjoys sports, enjoys Esports and gaming,” GEF CEO Paul Foster told News9 Sports on the sidelines of signing the SFA in the national capital on Tuesday (October 15).
This can be seen as exciting days for Esports aficionados in the country after the International Olympic Committee (IOC), earlier in July this year, announced to host the Olympic Esports Games 2025 in Saudi Arabia in a partnership with National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia. The Esports Olympic Games will be held annually for the next 12 years, according to the deal finalised between the global body and Saudi Arabia’s national federation.
This will further help to dispel the notion that Esports is not a leisure activity which wastes time for youth and adds no values in returns. The dynamics have certainly changed with many aspiring gamers putting their foot in the burgeoning industry, which is projected to grow by $100 million in India in 2025 after being valued at $40 million in 2023, as per the The Economic Times.
“I think the Global Esports federation is doing its level best to bring together federations from all over the world, and bring together stakeholders from all over the world, to grow Esports in a safe, healthy and equitable way. So parents also feel comfortable that their children are safe, healthy and happy,” Foster said on how global federations tend to appeal to parents of aspiring gamers in the country.
Global Esports Federation CEO Paul Foster (left) with Skillhub Online Games Federation president Shankar Aggarwal (middle). (Photo: Special Arrangement)
Global Esports Federation CEO Paul Foster with members of Skillhub Online Games Federation in New Delhi, India. (Photo: Special Arrangement)
Esports following suit of cricket in India?
For any sporting market to grow in India, the scale of heights naturally becomes to touch the success of cricket, a sport not just loved by Indians but worshipped widely and followed enthusiastically. The cricket market has grown by leaps and bounds ever since the emergence of the Indian Premier League in 2008.
The Esports market in India is powered by the rise of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BCMI) and Free Fire platforms, the two giants have garnered millions of revenues in the country. According to a report by The Times of India, (BGMI) generated approximately $32 million in revenue just two months after it was launched in the country in 2021. Meanwhile, Free Fire made $93 million in revenue in the first quarter of 2021 in India alone. The increase in prize pools and salaries only boosts the market. For instance, the BGMI Pro League offers a prize pool of INR 1.5 crore.
“My country Australia is also obsessed with cricket. But a lot of young people will tell us to do many things and not just one thing. So one of those things is playing Gaming and Esports,” Foster said on the growth of Esports amid the seismic shift of cricket followers in India.
The other big challenge for Esports is to sustain its marker, or maybe compete, with mainstream sports around the globe. This asks for more fan following, increasing in tournaments, enhancement in broadcasting facility, marketing, and promoting the sports in backward countries as well.
“I think Esports has made its space. The Gaming is played by more than 3.3 billion people around the world. I think the numbers speak for themselves. Esports is in the beginning phase as opposed to sports which have been around for dozens of years or 100s of years such as cricket,” said Foster.
“Esports is maybe in the first or second chapter in a long journey,” he concluded.
The aspiring Indian gamers won’t have to ado Esports as an unconventional activity but find a way to flourish here.
Next Article
Follow us on social media
