Team India put up strong performances to beat Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal in the DOTA 2 South Asian qualifiers to secure their berth at the Asian Championships LAN Finals, which are set to be contested in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 10–17, 2023.
The star-studded outfit, comprising skipper Manav Kunte (mnz), Vishal Vernekar (HBK), Abhishek Yadav (Abhi-), Shahbaz Hussain (PinkMaN), Krish Gupta (Krish`) and substitute Jaikishan Malik (KaEL), got off to the best possible start after effortlessly defeating Pakistan by 54-12 and Sri Lanka by 39-14 on the opening day. The team further extended their dominant run by beating Nepal 47-24 and Bangladesh 40-16 on Day 2 in the best-of-one matches.
Going up against Nepal in the best-of-three finals, Team India were at the top of their game and secured comprehensive victories in the first two rounds by 34-27 and 36-34 to emerge as the champions of South Asian qualifiers and become the only team from the region to qualify for the Asian qualifiers.
The team qualified for the South Asian qualifiers by defeating Team Mob in the finals of the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2023, conducted by the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) earlier this year. The squad’s prominent players HBK and Abhi- were also part of the historic DOTA 2 team that won the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Esports Championships in 2022.
The team will now be competing against the leading DOTA 2 teams from Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, Mongolia, Australia, Jordan, Myanmar and Saudi Arabia to qualify for the 15th World Esports Championships (WEC), scheduled to be held in Ia?i, Romania, from August 24 to September 4 later this year.
Manv Kunte, Indian team captain, said:
“We came into the South Asian qualifiers with the goal of proving ourselves in the region and we are proud to have achieved that. Defeating all the teams from the region with stunning performances and securing our spot in the Asian Championship is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and unity of our team. We are now ready to face the best teams in Asia, and earn the spot to represent India at the 15th World Esports Championships.“
Vinod Tiwari, ESFI President, said:
“We are immensely proud of our Indian DOTA 2 team for their exceptional performance in the qualifiers, where they conquered all South Asian teams to secure their spot in the prestigious Asian Championship. Their victory not only showcases their talent and skill but also represents the dedication and hard work they have put into excelling as a unit.
“All of the Indian teams progressing through to the Asian qualifiers is a reflection of the immense potential our country possesses in the gaming industry. Everyone at ESFIs congratulates the team on their qualification and are looking forward to witnessing their amazing performances in the Asia LAN finals in Riyadh.“
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