KUCHING: The Sarawak Government will provide incentives for e-sports athletes who bring back winning medals for the state.
Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that e-sports has been recognised internationally in the Sea Games and Commonwealth Games.
“So, if there is any winner, if they (esports athletes) end up becoming podium finisher, so definitely they will be getting just like what the other sports athletes are getting,” he told reporters after officiating at the E-Sports Challenge 2022 held in conjunction with the Kuching Festival at Kuching South City Council (MBKS) today.
He also took the opportunity to congratulate Sarawak E-Sports Association (SESA) president Afiq Fadhli Narawi who has been nominated to lead the Malaysian contingent for the e-sports event at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, England.
Asked on 25-year-old Nadrah Saufi from Sibu who will be included in the Malaysian contingent for the e-sports event which is organised as a demonstration event at the 22nd Commonwealth Games, Abdul Karim said this reflects the standard of e-sports in Sarawak.
“When you have got the participants from Sarawak representing Malaysia in the Sea Games or Commonwealth Games, that means we have attained a high level of expertise in e-sports,” he said.
Meanwhile, The E-Sports Challenge 2022 programme was jointly organised by MBKS and Sarawak E-Sports Association (SESA), where there would be two e-sports events namely, Mobile Legend Bang Bang which is held on July 30 and 31 and Tekken on Aug 6 and 7
