KeSPA Targets Five Gold Medals at 2026 Asian Games, Realistically Aiming for Two
The Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA) has officially launched its campaign for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, aiming to secure five gold medals across eleven new esports titles. With China absent from the League of Legends competition, Taiwan and Vietnam emerge as the primary rivals, while Japan's dominance in fighting games and battle royale formats sets a challenging stage for South Korea.
Expanded Esports Program
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will feature eleven esports disciplines, an increase from the seven titles at the Hangzhou Games. South Korea plans to field 36 athletes across nine categories, including Dota 2, Pokémon UNITE, Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Battle Royale Mobile, Identity V, Gran Turismo 7, eFootball, and Puyo Puyo Champions. Notably, the roster includes several Japanese titles, suggesting a potential Korea-Japan showdown.
League of Legends: Taiwan as the Main Threat
In the absence of China due to political issues, Taiwan is expected to be the strongest competitor in League of Legends. The Korean team will face the Taiwanese squad led by CTBC Flying Oyster's Hongqiu (Chai Minghong), Junzia (Wei Junzha), and Dogo (Chu Ziquan). Despite their strong track record, including reaching the LCK finals last year, recent international matches have seen LCK teams struggle against Taiwan. Vietnam also poses a significant threat, led by coach Sophem (Le Quang Tui) and featuring standout mid-laner Diaera (Chen Zuijue), who previously upset TES at the Mid-Season Invitational.
Fighting Games and Battle Royale Mobile
The remaining gold medal is expected to come from either fighting games or Battle Royale Mobile. In fighting games, South Korea will compete in team events for Street Fighter 6, The King of Fighters XV, and Tekken 8. Key players include Higuchi Kojiro (Zeta Division) for Street Fighter 6, who recently defeated Korean player Yeonje Gil at the Asian E-Sports Championship. For Tekken 8, Nakaya Daichi from Team Yamasa will represent Japan, while Sawada Akimitsu (Amaterasu Gaming) will compete in The King of Fighters XV.
Realistic Medal Expectations
While KeSPA set ambitious targets of five gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, industry insiders believe achieving just two gold medals is more realistic. The most likely candidates for gold are League of Legends and either Battle Royale Mobile or fighting games. The absence of Chinese competitors in LoL significantly boosts Korea's chances, while the strength of Japanese teams in fighting games and the unpredictable nature of battle royale formats make those categories highly competitive.
Broadcasting Coverage
Sports1 holds the broadcasting rights for the esports events at the Asian Games, continuing its coverage from the Hangzhou Games. Additionally, it is reported that Naver Chizik has acquired rights to stream the esports competitions. However, since the games are held in Japan, broadcasts will likely focus on Japanese titles and rely on feeds from local sources.
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