The esports competition was held as part of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, from 19 September to 24 September 2017. The event was organized under the auspices of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Electronic Sports Federation of Asia (ESFA).
Program and Titles
Three video‑game titles were contested:
- League of Legends – a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game.
- Hearthstone – a digital collectible card game.
- StarCraft II – a real‑time strategy (RTS) game.
Each title featured a tournament format that progressed through group stages and knockout rounds, culminating in a final match to determine gold, silver, and bronze medalists.
Participating Nations
Teams from a range of Asian National Olympic Committees took part. Among the confirmed participants were:
- China
- Iran
- Kazakhstan
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Turkmenistan (host nation)
Additional nations also entered competitors; a complete roster is recorded in the official AIMAG results documentation.
Medal Status
Medals were awarded to the top three finishers in each title. Although the medals were presented in ceremony, the esports results were treated as a demonstration sport for the purpose of the overall Games medal table and therefore did not affect the official country rankings.
Significance
The inclusion of esports marked the first time the discipline was featured at an OCA‑sanctioned multi‑sport event. The competition demonstrated growing recognition of competitive video gaming within the Asian sporting community and provided a platform for athletes from the region to compete under a standardized tournament structure.
References
- Official results book of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (Ashgabat 2017).
- Olympic Council of Asia – “Esports at AIMAG 2017” press releases.
