Esports National Teams eye for medals at the Asian Games and World Esports Championships 2023
The National Esports teams trials, organised by Sri Lanka Esports in partnership with Gamer.LK and powered by principal sponsor, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, Dialog Axiata PLC, will serve as a pathway to the national Esports teams that will represent Sri Lanka on the global stage.
Esports has been growing rapidly in Sri Lanka over the past few years, and the country has produced top-tier Esport athletes who have represented the nation at international tournaments such as the International Esports Federation’s World Championships and Global Esports Games. Sri Lanka Esports intends to add to this momentum by selecting the most talented players for the national teams.
The selection process involves try-outs for various Esports titles such as PUBG MOBILE, Dota 2, CS:GO, Valorant, Arena of Valor, Clash Royale, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, eFootball 2023, FIFA 23, Hearthstone, League of Legends, Mobile Legends, Street Fighter V and Tekken 7. Esports athletes that make it into the top 3 places in these titles are shortlisted to the National Player Pool. The selection process will be conducted by the Sports Ministry approved Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Esports and the selected athletes will be provided support to participate in international tournaments.
“We firmly believe that Sri Lankans have the potential to make their mark in global Esports. The country has a wealth of untapped talent that can compete with the best in the world,” said Raveen Wijayatilake, President of Sri Lanka Esports. “Our aim is to create a strong and competitive Esports scene in Sri Lanka, and we believe that selecting and putting our country’s finest athletes out there on the international stage is a crucial part of reaching this goal”.
“The rise of Esports as a legitimate competitive sport has been impressive in Sri Lanka and there is no doubt that our athletes have the potential to be very competitive at international tournaments and lead the way in innovative gaming strategies. As Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider Dialog Axiata is excited to power the Esports National Selections Tourney 2023 which is vital to expand the national pool. I wish Sri Lanka Esports for a successful tourney,” said Harsha Samaranayake, Vice President, Brand and Media – Group Marketing of Dialog Axiata PLC .
Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, has been at the helm of uplifting Esports for over a decade by powering gaming competitions in Sri Lanka. In the recent past, Dialog’s strategic partnership with SLESA has empowered the training and development of vital skills for avid local gamers and help bring structured Esports to all corners of the island. With the widest 4G coverage in Sri Lanka and constantly network optimisations, Dialog delivers on its commitment towards bridging the digital divide by enabling Esports to prosper in the rural peripheries of Sri Lanka. In the last ‘Free Fire Tourney’ organised by SLESA, the winning team emerged from the Moneragala district and was a testament to that commitment.
The selected players will represent Sri Lanka in various international Esports tournaments, including the upcoming Asian Games 2023, where Esports has been included as a medal event for the first time. The International Esports Federation’s World Esports Championships at Lași, Romania will also be a focus event for the National Esports teams. These are significant opportunities for Sri Lankan Esports athletes to display their abilities on the world stage and bring glory to their country.
Follow Sri Lanka Esports on Facebook for the latest updates from the selections and cheer our National Esports teams on as they take Sri Lanka Esports to the world stage.
ABOUT SLESA – NOT TO BE PRINTED
The Sri Lanka Esports Association (SLESA) was founded in 2010 and is the officially recognised body for the governance of Esports in Sri Lanka by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Esports was recognised as the 70th official sport in Sri Lanka in 2019 and SLESA actively promotes the sport as ‘Sri Lanka Esports’. SLESA consists of member clans working together with other stakeholders to provide the framework and governance for Esports allowing it to be promoted and grow within the country.
For more updates on SLESA, visit www.esports.lk, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/srilankaesports.
