A total of 27 National Olympic Committees (NOC) have entered players in esports categories for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games with it set to make its medal sport debut at the Games.

Esports was originally a demonstration sport at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, following which it was confirmed as a medal sport at the Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly in Oman in December 2020. Esports was unanimously voted in by all 45 NOCs.

A Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games statement revealed: “The number of NOCs interested in competing in football, basketball, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball and table tennis has increased, with the number higher than that at the 2018 Asian Games. Esports and breaking, two newly-added sports for Hangzhou 2022, drew the attention of 27 and 17 NOCs, respectively.”

There is set to be 40 sports, 61 disciplines and 482 events at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, which is scheduled to run from September 10 to 25 next year.