KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — The Malaysia Electronic Sports Federation (MESF) have set their team a modest four-medal target and a top-two finish overall in the May 12-23 Hanoi SEA Games.
A total of 10 gold medals will be up for grabs in eSports in the Vietnam Games.
MESF president Datuk Ananth S. Nathan expects the medals to come from Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) Mobile (team event), FIFA Online 4 and Arena of Valor as they seek to secure a top-two finish overall.
“If possible, we want to win medals in all the events, but it is in these four games that we have the best chance of winning medals. This is based on our athletes’ competitiveness at the international level and, historically, we are strong,” he said at a virtual press conference today.
He confirmed that Malaysia, who will also participate in PUBG Mobile (individual), Garena Free Fire, League of Legends (PC) as well as both the men’s and women’s team events of League of Legends: Wild Rift (mobile), won’t compete in CrossFire.
When e-sports made its debut as a medal sport in the 2019 edition in Manila, Malaysia won gold in Hearthstone and bronze through the MLBB team.
Meanwhile, MESF National Athletes Selection Committee chairman Kelvin Phang Ching Kuen said the federation would organise national selection trials from February 18 to March 6 to “impartially identify the best individuals” to represent the country.
The selected gamers will then attend a two-month boot camp at the National Sports Council (NSC) in Bukit Jalil and EBN Esports City at Quill City Mall as well as be sent for exposure in both domestic and international competitions before heading to Hanoi.
Only gamers aged 18 and above by May 12 are allowed to compete in eSports in the Hanoi SEA Games.
— Bernama
