Nepal’s E-Sports Players Face Asian Games Exit Amid Administrative Dispute

Nepali e-sports players who earned their place at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, are now facing the possibility of missing the tournament due to an ongoing administrative dispute between two national e-sports organisations.

The players, who successfully competed in the qualification process and secured their places through hard-fought competition, have demanded answers from the government, saying their years of training and achievements are being undermined by administrative disagreements.

At a press conference held on Friday, the players questioned why they could be prevented from representing Nepal at the Asian Games despite qualifying on the basis of their sporting performance.

Nepal E-Sports Team Qualified for Asian Games

Nepal's e-sports team secured a place in the Asian Games following the qualification tournament held in Vietnam in June.

The Nepali team finished seventh among 23 participating nations, securing a place among the top eight teams that qualified for the Asian Games.

Following the qualification campaign, 12 Nepali players were selected to represent the country in three e-sports disciplines:

• PUBG Mobile

• Honor of Kings

• E-Football

However, the players now face exclusion from the Asian Games because their names were reportedly not registered by the government before the July 15 deadline.

The situation has left the players frustrated and uncertain about their participation in one of the biggest sporting events in Asia.

Players Demand Answers From Government

At Friday's press conference, the players expressed disappointment over the situation and questioned why they could not participate in the Asian Games after successfully qualifying.

Homraj Tamang, manager of Nepal's PUBG team, said the players were suffering because of the dispute between the Nepal E-Sports Association (NESA) and the E-Sports Association of Nepal (ESAN).

He argued that better coordination between the two organisations could have allowed Nepal's qualified players to compete in Japan.

According to Tamang, the players had done their part on the field by qualifying for the competition, but administrative disagreements have now placed their participation at risk.

Players Fear for Their E-Sports Careers

The uncertainty has also raised concerns about the future of young Nepali e-sports athletes.

Dipesh Gurung, known in the PUBG community as 'Delta,' expressed frustration over being unable to compete despite qualifying.

He questioned the value of continuing a career in e-sports if athletes can qualify for major international events but still be prevented from participating because of administrative issues.

For many of these players, representing Nepal at the Asian Games would have been a major milestone in their careers.

Sameer Costello, aged 20, also spoke about the impact of the situation on his family. He said his family had been proud when he represented Nepal but was now encouraging him to focus on his studies instead.

Other players have reportedly received similar advice from their families, raising concerns that administrative uncertainty could discourage young athletes from pursuing careers in e-sports.

Dispute Between NESA and ESAN

The controversy is linked to a long-running dispute between two e-sports organisations operating in Nepal: the Nepal E-Sports Association (NESA) and the E-Sports Association of Nepal (ESAN).

The Nepali team qualified for the Asian Games through the process conducted under NESA. However, the subsequent administrative process required for official participation has reportedly become complicated because of the lack of coordination between the organisations.

Players say they have effectively become caught in the middle of the dispute.

They argue that athletes who qualified through competition should not be punished because of disagreements between sports organisations.

National Sports Council Cites Longlist Issue

The National Sports Council (NSC) has provided a different explanation for why the e-sports team may not participate.

According to Ramcharitra Mehta, acting member-secretary of the NSC, participation in the Asian Games requires athletes and teams to be included in the official longlist and shortlist process.

Officials from NESA, however, have alleged that there was pressure from the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Education and Sports not to send the e-sports team to the Asian Games.

Mehta has rejected those claims, saying the NSC did not receive such instructions and that decisions regarding participation were made independently.

The conflicting statements have further increased uncertainty surrounding Nepal's participation.

Players Warn of Legal Action

The affected players have questioned why they were not informed earlier if their participation was going to be affected by administrative requirements.

They have also warned that they may consider taking legal action against the government over the issue.

The players argue that athletes should not lose opportunities because of disputes between organisations and have called for greater accountability and coordination within Nepal's sports administration.

Nepal’s E-Sports Medal Hopes at Risk

Nepal sent a 23-member e-sports team to the 19th Asian Games, where the country came close to winning medals in several events.

This year's potential exclusion is therefore being viewed as a major setback for Nepal's growing e-sports sector.

The players selected to represent Nepal include:

PUBG Mobile

• Samir Costello

• Rohit Tamang

• Saurabh Tamang

• Sonu Karki

• Dipesh Gurung

Honor of Kings

• Sushank Kumar Roy

• Swastik Maharjan

• Vijay Rai

• Suyograj Poudel

• Ashish Kunwar

E-Football

• Mavin Dahal

• Yunes Koju

The players had been preparing to compete on the international stage, but their Asian Games participation remains uncertain.

Concerns Over Nepal’s E-Sports Future

The controversy comes at a time when e-sports is rapidly expanding as a global competitive industry, attracting millions of players and viewers and creating professional opportunities for young athletes.

Nepal's e-sports community has also been growing, with talented players competing in international tournaments and representing the country on the global stage.

The Nepali PUBG team is also preparing to travel to France for the upcoming E-Sports World Cup, highlighting the country's growing presence in international e-sports.

However, experts and players fear that administrative disputes and a lack of coordination could discourage emerging talent and encourage promising players to leave Nepal in search of better opportunities.

For the players who qualified for the Asian Games, the immediate concern is simple: they want the opportunity to compete.

After proving themselves on the field, they are now asking the authorities to resolve the administrative dispute and ensure that Nepal's qualified e-sports athletes are not denied the chance to represent their country.

The controversy has sparked a broader debate about how Nepal manages emerging sports and whether administrative disagreements should ever prevent qualified athletes from competing internationally.