Esports is quickly becoming a significant phenomenon in the world of sports. India’s League of Legends captain, Akshaj Shenoy, says esports athletes should have a place among traditional athletes.
Shenoy, also known as Kat Bot, will be leading India’s six-man League of Legends team at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya.
Esports Needs Skills, Too
Running, swimming and wrestling, while being very different from esports, require skill, preparation, strategy, discipline and the ability to put one under pressure.
Shenoy believes esports is not an inferior or superior sport, just different to traditional sports.
What it Takes to be a Professional Gamer
League of Legends is a five-versus-five strategy-based game, where players use special roles to work together and take the enemy team down.
At the highest level of play, the game is not just about skills; players need a combination of decision making, game knowledge, communication, coordination and consistency.
Gaming professionals need to know their enemies and adapt their strategies during matches.
India is Set to Win a Medal
Shenoy expresses that the team feels that there is potential to leave with a medal from the Asian Games.
The team has trained for hours upon hours together, analysing their game and the opposition in order to be ready when the competition commences.
Gaming Doesn’t Automatically Mean Profession
Shenoy has a reminder for fellow young gamers, that sitting in front of the screen for hours on end does not automatically make you a professional.
The professional scene of esports requires discipline and consistency, as players need to continuously hone their craft.
Education Still Comes First
Shenoy acknowledges that the road to being a professional can be a bumpy one, as when he began his journey there was not many who saw playing video games as a profession.
Instead of having to choose one or the other, Shenoy chose both and managed to do well in his studies while pursuing his dream.
Shenoy thinks that the young generation should follow suit while parents support their children in their decisions and remind them of the importance of education.
Esports Can Lead to Many Careers
Esports is a growing industry and while being a pro-gamer is an option, there are a number of other careers that have appeared alongside the growth of esports.
Shenoy thinks that playing more and more is not the solution for young players, but instead that they should seek to develop themselves and have sustainable careers.
