REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Communication and Informatics Minister Rudiantara has expressed readiness to support the e-Sports tournament, He acknowledged that enthusiasts of the sports branch were increasing in the country.

"I will offer support for this event to be held in many cities. This is a proof of the government's support," Rudiantara stated at the closing of the Southeast Asia Cyber Arena (SEACA) at the Taman Anggrek Mall here on Monday.

As e-Sports will be an official medal sport at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Rudiantara expressed hope that Indonesian athletes would deliver their best performance in the sports branch. "If the gold medal winners at the Asian Games 2018 received Rp1.5 billion of bonuses, I hope that e-Sports athletes would also deliver achievements," he added.

SEACA is the biggest e-Sports tournament in Southeast Asia held by UniPin. The event has drawn attention of e-Sports fans in Jakarta and the surrounding cities.

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Some 230 domestic and international e-Sports athletes took part in the event to win prize worth Rp1.4 billion. Among the video games to be competed when eSports is introduced at the SEACA are Mobile Legends, Arena of Valor, PlayerUnknown's Battleground, Point Blank, and DOTA 2.

Some e-Sports athletes from ASEAN countries, such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, participated in the event. Southeast Asia has recorded the fastest growth of e-Sports as compared to other countries in the world.

CEO and Co-founder of UniPin Ashadi Ang stated that the rapid growth of e-Sports in Southeast Asia has been viewed as a basis to make Indonesia as a center of e-Sports in the region.

"Through SEACA, we want to make Indonesia as a hub and center of e-Sports in Southeast Asia. UniPin eSports has the mission to promote e-Sports as a healthy lifestyle," he stated.

Ang elaborated that UniPin has collaborated with several parties to hold the SEACA in a bid to materialize its dream to develop the e-Sports industry in Indonesia as the largest in Southeast Asia.

"We want SEACA to be held as an annual event and cover a wider area, so it can create world-class e-Sports athletes from all regions in Indonesia," he added.

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