Malaysia's eSports Asiad success triggers a call for more firepower

The Malaysia Esports Federation (MESF) is seeking greater involvement in the Podium Programme to prepare for the 2027 Southeast Asian Games. After a successful run at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the national eSports squad won one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, surpassing their goal of one silver and three bronze. MESF president Naim Al Amin Saharudin revealed that only three games - Gran Turismo 7 (GT7), eFootball, and Identity V - are currently part of the full-time Podium Programme, while Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) has part-time status.

Naim emphasized that the medal-winning performances of the full-time titles in Aichi-Nagoya demonstrate the effectiveness of the current approach and should be expanded. He expressed intention to apply for MLBB's inclusion in the full-time programme, as well as the women's eSport category, for the upcoming SEA Games. Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira made history as Malaysia's first eSports gold medallist at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, winning the GT7 event.

The eFootball and Honor of Kings teams secured silver medals, while Identity V and MLBB earned bronze. Overall, Malaysia placed third in eSports, behind Japan and China. To bolster the program, MESF plans to implement a more comprehensive selection process, scouting talent at school, university, and open qualifier levels. After several months of joint training, a shortlist of athletes will be formed before they are placed on a final list for training camps, either locally or abroad.

MESF has also requested improved training facilities and a larger training center from the National Sports Council (NSC) to accommodate more athletes and titles, as current space at NSC is limited.