S’wak gamers encouraged to aim for SEA Games
KUCHING: Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan hopes to see Sarawak gamers representing Malaysia in esports at the 30th Southeast Asian ( SEA) Games to be held in Manila, the Philippines from Nov 30 to Dec 10.
He said although esports or electronic games sports is relatively new in Sarawak and Malaysia, there are many talented gamers out there with esports fast gaining popularity.
“The S a r awak E sp or t s Association ( SESA) led by Afiq Fadhli Narawi has done a good job as they have been very aggressive in promoting esports in Sarawak and we will definitely support this new sports,” he said at the opening of the Sarawak Esports State Selection ( SESS) at CityONE Megamall along Jalan Tun Jugah on Friday night.
He noted that the federal Sports Minister Syed Siddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has allocated a RM10 million budget for the promotion and development for esports nationwide.
“SEA Games will be offering five gold medals for esports and I hope among you will make it to the top best players in the national selection to represent Malaysia and go on to win medals in Manila,” he told the participants.
Esports, he pointed out, can also become a professional career for gamers as he highlighted the case of Singapore’s “Ice” Darel Tay who has played in many tournaments and topped earnings of SGD 1.4 million.
“We will sponsor prize money for the Sarawak Esports League winners end of this year, with the champion getting RM5,000, first runner- up RM3,000 and third placing to get RM2,000,” the assistant minister added.
Meanwhi le, the inaugural SESS at tracted 289 players from Kuching and 154 players from Miri who are competing in DOTA2, Starcraft, Arena of Valor, Mobile Legend, Bang Bang and Tekken 7.
Together with the Youth and Sports Ministry, SESA is also kicking of f the FIFA19 and PES2019 ( Pro Evolution Soccer) Sarawak Qualifiers over the weekend.
Also present at the event were Youth and Sports Ministry department of sports development assistant director Raf idah Abu Bakar Lim, SESA deputy president Eugene Lai, treasurer cum event organsing chairman Darren Kueh.