KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- The national esports squad's achievement of winning one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games demonstrates that strong government support particularly from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) can elevate the nation's esports sector to greater heights.
In a statement today, the Malaysia Esports Federation (MESF) said that securing five medals across nine events was the result of strategic planning, meticulous preparation, and close collaboration among the MESF, KBS, National Sports Council (MSN), Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), and the National Sports Institute (ISN).
According to MESF, this historic success also validates the effectiveness of the full-time Podium Programme initiative, which has enabled some national esports athletes to undergo more structured and professional preparations.
MESF also expressed its appreciation to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Mohammed Taufiq Johari, for his vision, support, and efforts in elevating the status of esports as a high-performance sport in the country.
"The initiative to integrate a number of esports athletes into the Podium Programme on a full-time basis is a sound decision.
"This recognition not only places esports on par with other high-performance sports but also provides assurance and peace of mind to the athletes," the statement read.
MESF said focusing on infrastructure, welfare, and the athletes' future allows them to concentrate fully on tournament preparations, thereby helping the national squad compete on the Asian stage.
It added that the achievement in Aichi-Nagoya marks the beginning of ongoing efforts to produce more world-class esports talent and ensures that this success serves as a springboard for the development of the nation's esports scene.
-- BERNAMA