Asian Games 2026 Esports Controversy: How Mongolia’s 3-Minute Delay Robbed India’s Medal Chance
India’s esports medal hopes at the 2026 Asian Games took a dramatic hit after Mongolia arrived three minutes late for its eFootball Group F match against India on Tuesday. Danial Patel and Chinmay Sahoo were awarded a 0-0 forfeit win, but the result left India with a goal difference of zero and eliminated their chances of advancing from the group. As per The Bridge, the Indian duo had protested…
During the 2026 Asian Games, India's hopes of advancing from Group F in the esports competition suffered a major setback when Mongolia arrived three minutes late for their eFootball match against India. The Indian players, Danial Patel and Chinmay Sahoo, were awarded a 0-0 forfeit win, but this result left India with a goal difference of zero, eliminating their chances of moving forward.
The Indian duo had protested the decision and expressed a desire to play the match, but officials deemed Mongolia's late arrival a forfeit under the competition rules. Mongolia's earlier victories against Uzbekistan further disadvantaged India, as Uzbekistan now boasted a goal difference of +15. This meant India required more than just a win against Mongolia to secure their progression.
Ultimately, the 0-0 outcome left India with a goal difference of zero, while Uzbekistan benefited from earlier results that gave them a significant advantage in the group standings. Consequently, India's esports campaign was dealt a major blow despite securing a win in the match.
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