India has added esports to the list of sports eligible for cash rewards when athletes (and their coaches) win medals at world or continental championships. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ decision to include esports in the cash incentive program is another move that gives it the same recognition as traditional sports. An Indian esports athlete will have to win a medal in esports in the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World University Games, or the Esports World Championship to be eligible for the cash award scheme. According to the Esports Federation of India (ESFI), this move will help the sector grow while motivating more athletes to compete for India and earn medals on the global stage. The government’s decision to reward esports coaches will also help create an ecosystem for structured training and professional development, which is currently lacking in India, according to ESFI. More like thisPokemon Unite: Revenant XSpark to Represent India at Japan Finals along with GodLike Esports after Winter Tournament Win “This is a landmark moment for Indian esports,” said ESFI director and Asian Esports Federation vice president Lokesh Suji. “The government’s recognition of esports medallists and their coaches with financial incentives is a defining step for our sport. India is already a force to reckon with in esports, and this initiative will inspire more young talent to compete internationally. We foresee an exponential rise in grassroots participation and the development of India’s esports ecosystem.” “This is a great start, and eventually, we will see this incentive scheme extended to Asian-level esports championships as well,” he added. “We urge all states to also include esports medallists in their state-level cash incentive programs.” Esports athletes and coaches must apply for cash rewards through the Department of Sports’ DBT-MIS portal within six months of their event’s conclusion. Previously, ESFI helped secure ₹10 lakh each for Maharashtra-based esports athletes who competed at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Indian esports athletes have already won multiple medals for the country, such as: Teerth Mehta’s bronze in Hearthstone at the 2018 Asian Games India’s Dota 2 team winning bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Esports Championship Wasfi Bilal’s silver in Tekken 8 at the 2024 BRICS Esports Championship Pavan Kampelli’s bronze in eFootball at the 2024 Asian Esports Games Got any news tips, or want to discuss a possible story? Email us at ign_india@ign.com Rayan Sayyed is a staff writer for IGN India with a primary focus on Asian entertainment, spanning from anime, manga, games to films and dramas from the East. You can reach out to him at rayan_sayyed@ign.com, or find him on Twitter/X @rayanaver and Instagram @rayansayyed

Indian Government Includes Esports Medallists to Cash Incentive Program

“This is a landmark moment for Indian esports,” said ESFI director and Asian Esports Federation vice president Lokesh Suji. “The government’s recognition of esports medallists and their coaches with financial incentives is a defining step for our sport. India is already a force to reckon with in esports, and this initiative will inspire more young […]

“This is a landmark moment for Indian esports,” said ESFI director and Asian Esports Federation vice president Lokesh Suji. “The government’s recognition of esports medallists and their coaches with financial incentives is a defining step for our sport. India is already a force to reckon with in esports, and this initiative will inspire more young talent to compete internationally. We foresee an exponential rise in grassroots participation and the development of India’s esports ecosystem.”

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ decision to include esports in the cash incentive program is another move that gives it the same recognition as traditional sports.

“This is a great start, and eventually, we will see this incentive scheme extended to Asian-level esports championships as well,” he added. “We urge all states to also include esports medallists in their state-level cash incentive programs.”

According to the Esports Federation of India (ESFI), this move will help the sector grow while motivating more athletes to compete for India and earn medals on the global stage.

India has added esports to the list of sports eligible for cash rewards when athletes (and their coaches) win medals at world or continental championships.

More like this

Pokemon Unite: Revenant XSpark to Represent India at Japan Finals along with GodLike Esports after Winter Tournament Win

Rayan Sayyed is a staff writer for IGN India with a primary focus on Asian entertainment, spanning from anime, manga, games to films and dramas from the East. You can reach out to him at rayan_sayyed@ign.com, or find him on Twitter/X @rayanaver and Instagram @rayansayyed

Esports athletes and coaches must apply for cash rewards through the Department of Sports’ DBT-MIS portal within six months of their event’s conclusion.

Indian esports athletes have already won multiple medals for the country, such as:

An Indian esports athlete will have to win a medal in esports in the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World University Games, or the Esports World Championship to be eligible for the cash award scheme.

The government’s decision to reward esports coaches will also help create an ecosystem for structured training and professional development, which is currently lacking in India, according to ESFI.

Teerth Mehta’s bronze in Hearthstone at the 2018 Asian Games
India’s Dota 2 team winning bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Esports Championship
Wasfi Bilal’s silver in Tekken 8 at the 2024 BRICS Esports Championship
Pavan Kampelli’s bronze in eFootball at the 2024 Asian Esports Games

Got any news tips, or want to discuss a possible story? Email us at ign_india@ign.com

Previously, ESFI helped secure ₹10 lakh each for Maharashtra-based esports athletes who competed at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.