India's first online esports academy opened this summer

17 July 2023

Since a few years, esports are on the rise not just in social and gaming circles, but also in education. More and more institutions all around the world are integrating esports and gaming principles into either their existing programs or new courses. Recently, for example, for our UK sister website, we published an article about the Scottish Angus Council introducing the country’s first esports curriculum for primary schools and that is just one of the many examples we could give. In terms of international esports, the country of India is holding a lot of potential as well, and we see more and more Indian esports organizations making waves in the international communities as well. The launch of India’s first online gaming academy later this summer will only encourage that trend.

Madhya Pradesh State Junior Esports Championship

The academy, which will exist entirely online, has been announced by the sports department of Madhya Pradesh, an important state in central India, and is set to open its virtual doors later this summer. First, there will be a large-scale talent search during the MP (Madhya Pradesh) State Junior Esports Championship, which will be taking place from Sunday, July 23rd, to Monday, August 7th. This is an annual 10-day tournament during which young and aspiring gamers can showcase their skills and compete against other talented players. The Madhya Pradesh sports department will take that opportunity to scout for talent that can be enrolled at the new esports academy to further enhance their skills in online gaming.

“MP [Madhya Pradesh] has become a sports hub”, says Yashodara Raje Scindia, the state’s Sports minister, “The objective behind launching the Esports Academy is to promote all such sports that have a presence in the Asian Games and Olympics. MP’s break dance and Esports Academy are the first such academies in the country that will give the youth an opportunity to hone their skills in these new sports in addition to traditional sports”.

Talent aged between 12 and 17 years old

Initially, the Esports Academy’s focus will be on esports and gaming talent aged between 12 and 17 years old. As mentioned earlier, the first major scouting mission will be conducted during the MP State Junior Esports Championship. The primary purpose of the academy is to provide Indian esports talent with a solid platform that actively promotes esports and encourages motivated players to improve their skills. This eventually has to lead to more Indian esports success at prestigious international events, such as the Asian Games, the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Esports Championships.

The launch of the Esports Academy in Madhya Pradesh by the local Sports ministry is yet another confirmation of the growing status of esports all around the world. With this brand-new academy, India and the state of Madhya Pradesh in particular are looking to revolutionize the online gaming landscape in the entire country, as well as the position of India as a global esports superpower.