Running, swimming and wrestling fit the traditional image of an Asian Games athlete more readily than competing behind a computer screen.
India’s League of Legends captain Akshaj Shenoy, however, believes that while esports may look different, the demands of competing at the highest level are much the same.
“I think it is understandable because the idea of an esports athlete is still relatively new to a lot of people,” Shenoy told Olympics.com ahead of the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya.
“When you think of sport, you traditionally think of physical exertion, but competitive sport is also about skill, preparation, strategy, discipline and performing under pressure. Esports has all of those elements, even though the way they are applied is different.”
Esports will return as a medal sport at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, scheduled from September 19 to October 4, after making its debut as a medal sport at Hangzhou 2023.
Akshaj Shenoy, whose gamertag is Kat Bot, will captain India’s six-member League of Legends team.
For Shenoy, being part of the Asian Games has also given esports players something they have rarely had before: a chance to represent India on the same stage as athletes from established sports.
“I don’t look at it as being better or worse than a traditional sport. It is simply a different form of competition,” he said.
“When we stand alongside athletes from other disciplines at the Asian Games, we are all there for the same reason: we have earned the opportunity to represent our country at the highest level in our respective disciplines.”
League of Legends is a five-versus-five strategy game in which players have specific roles and work together to outplay the opposition and destroy the enemy team’s base.
At the elite level, however, Akshaj Shenoy says playing the game is only a small part of what separates professional competitors from casual gamers.
Players have to constantly communicate, interpret their opponents’ intentions, make quick decisions and adjust strategies while executing their individual roles within the larger team plan.
“What makes someone good is a combination of mechanical skill, game knowledge, decision-making, communication and consistency,” Shenoy explained.
“You can have incredible individual skill, but if you cannot work with your teammates or make the right decision under pressure, it is very difficult to succeed.”
Preparation also extends well beyond the competition itself.
“We spend hours practising together, reviewing our games, studying opponents and working on strategies,” he said. “So, like any other competitive athlete, there is a lot of preparation that people may not see when they watch the actual match.
“I don’t think we would be competing at this level if we didn’t believe a medal was possible,” Shenoy said.
‘Playing for hours is not the same as training’
Yet Akshaj Shenoy is equally keen to make another distinction – particularly for youngsters who might watch India’s esports athletes at the Asian Games and dream of following the same path.
“Playing for hours is not the same as training to become a professional athlete,” he said.
“You need discipline, consistency, teamwork and the willingness to learn from your mistakes. And most importantly, don’t use esports as an excuse to neglect everything else in your life.”
It is a subject Akshaj Shenoy can approach from personal experience.
At a time when competitive gaming offered a far less established career pathway in India, Shenoy admits there were questions over how long esports could realistically remain part of his professional plans.
“At that stage, esports was still something that many people saw as a hobby rather than a career, so there was always a question about how long I could realistically pursue it,” he said.
“For me, the answer was not necessarily to choose one (studies) over the other. I tried to compartmentalise my time and give both the attention they deserved.”
His message to parents wary of their children pursuing gaming is similarly measured.
Akshaj Shenoy believes the professional esports ecosystem has developed considerably, encompassing teams, coaches, tournaments, content, broadcasting and several associated career opportunities.
