Malaysian gamers set for SEA Games

PETALING JAYA–Malaysian e-sports participants will have a chance to outgun their competitors at the first-ever e-sport event to be held at the 30th SEA Games at the end of the month.

Malaysia will be sending 24 gamers to the regional event in Manila, the Philippines.

The gamers, aged 15 to 26, will be taking part in six e-sports medal events for the titles Tekken 7, Starcraft II, Hearthstone, Arena Of Valor, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Dota 2.

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said this would be a new beginning for e-sports in Malaysia at the flag-handing event in Kuala Lumpur Saturday.

“We are here for our athletes, ” he said, adding that it was about time for all Malaysians to take e-sports seriously and treat gamers as athletes like in any other sporting events.

“Now those who play e-sports as kids will aspire to something bigger, ” he said in his speech to rally support for the national e-sports team.

The team includes Firdaus Hashim as team manager, Ahmad Syazwan as head coach and six other coaches.

According to Firdaus, the e-sport participants were selected in August, and have been attending training sessions at the Orange Arena in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, since September.

They were selected from various states, including Sabah and Sarawak, he added.

Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation CEO Surina Shukri hoped the Malaysian e-sports competitors would be able to create history at the SEA Games.

“The government is behind you. We’ve got your back, ” she said.

The SEA Games will take place from Nov 30 to Dec 11, with the e-sports medal events scheduled to take place from Dec 5 to 10.