Synopsis
India seeks a global esports victory to boost its standing. Experts emphasise skill development and a robust ecosystem. Tencent's investment signals a commitment to local talent and high-quality gaming experiences. The sector aims to bring Indian content to international audiences. Building a complete ecosystem, including training and infrastructure, is crucial for growth.Listen to this article in summarized format
“India needs a Neeraj Chopra moment in esports,” Rathee said in order to shift public and industry confidence in the sector.
He said India does not lack players but requires better training systems. “What we need is not more players. We need to train them better. The focus should be on skill development, not performance as an outcome,” Rathee said, adding that mindset change is critical for long-term success.
The comments come as China’s internet and technology company Tencent signed a three-year MoU signed with the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) and Game Developers Association of India (GDAI) with an initial commitment of over $1.04 million (Rs 10 crore) in New Delhi on Friday.
The company’s approach in India focuses on two priorities: delivering high-quality gaming experiences to players and building a strong local developer and talent ecosystem.
Speaking in a panel alongside Rathee, Yong-Yi Zhu, vice president of business operations, strategy and compliance at Tencent Games Global, said esports offers an opportunity to take Indian content to international audiences.
“The sector is about starting locally and taking it to a global audience. Indian stories can go global and people would be interested in them,” he said.
He added that while games operate at a global scale, localisation is critical.
“We study global markets and audience preferences, but localisation helps connect with users in specific markets,” Zhu said. He noted that India’s size makes it a strong starting point for scaling globally.
Other panelists included senior government representatives, Abhay Sinha, director general, SEPC, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ashish Kulkarni, board member, Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), and Lokesh Suji, director, Esports Federation of India (ESFI).
Tencent’s Yong-Yi Zhu agreed that esports is moving towards being recognised as a mainstream sport, but said the focus must be on building a complete ecosystem. This includes developers, teams, tournaments, training systems and supporting infrastructure.
On education, Kulkarni said structured programmes are being developed to train professionals across the esports value chain. These include courses in athlete development, fan engagement and ecosystem management.
“We are building programmes that combine creative arts and technology and preparing students for careers in this sector,” Kulkarni said. He added that efforts are being made to introduce such learning at the school level and align it with national initiatives like “Create in India”.
Kulkarni said India’s “orange economy”, which includes the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) sector , currently contributes about 2.5–3% to GDP and could increase to 10–11% over the next decade.
Suji of ESFI said government recognition has helped formalise the sector. “The industry is becoming more organised, but the focus should be on doing things correctly rather than just scaling up,” he said.
He added that public understanding remains limited. “Many people still confuse esports with other forms of gaming. Awareness will improve over time,” Suji said.
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