Indian esports player Animesh Agrawal on Wednesday reflected on his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, where they discussed the state of Indian gaming and esports. Agrawal emphasized that their conversation has played a crucial role in shaping the national perception of the industry.
“It’s been almost a year since we met him—it was around the first of April last year. The conversation was shared on social media in the form of a video. It was great to discuss esports and gaming with him. He showed a keen interest in Indian game development, the Indian gaming industry, and the potential for games rooted in Indian culture and societal values. Following that discussion, the national perception of gaming and esports has certainly evolved”, Agarwal told ANI.
“Events like the esports conclave, which is supported by PEFI in West India and attended by representatives from the sports ministry and other government bodies, further validate the industry’s growing importance. With esports medal events coming up in the following years, it’s crucial that we take gaming seriously in India. This is one of the key steps in shaping our future,” Agrawal added.
The Esports World Cup 2025, set to take place in Riyadh later this year, is shaping up to be the biggest esports event in history. With an unprecedented prize pool and a stacked lineup of global teams, the tournament promises to be legendary. Last year’s edition featured over 1,500 players from 200 teams competing for an astonishing $60 million USD (Rs 500 crore) prize pool. It attracted a global audience of 500 million viewers, including 10.5 million from India.
The Esports World Cup 2025 will feature a diverse lineup of top-tier competitive titles across multiple genres. So far, 23 popular titles have been confirmed, including Chess, VALORANT, Counter-Strike 2, Honor of Kings, DOTA 2, EAFC 25, League of Legends, PUBG: Battlegrounds, and many more.
Agrawal acknowledged that while India’s esports scene is still developing, the country lacks skilled players across various titles. While India excels in a few games, securing podium finishes in all medal events at the Olympics remains a distant dream. However, he emphasized the need to start developing talent now, considering esports’ recurring presence at the Olympics. He also highlighted the industry’s ongoing efforts to nurture domestic talent and elevate India’s esports standing on the global stage.
“Definitely, I think it’s a challenge for us. As I’ve always said, the Indian esports scene is still growing, and there is a shortage of skilled players across different titles. Gaming is a vast industry with multiple competitive titles, and India has truly mastered only a few of them—perhaps one or two”, Agarwal said.
“Competing in all medal events is easier said than done. While participation is achievable, securing podium finishes is a long-term goal. However, if we don’t start building talent today, we’ll miss future opportunities. With esports becoming a regular feature at the Olympics, we need to plan ahead. I believe the industry is gradually moving in the right direction—focusing on nurturing domestic talent and taking Indian esports to new heights,” he added.
(ANI)
