Bangkok, Dec 2: Indian esports reached a significant milestone as Pavan “MrTomboy” Kampelli secured a bronze medal in eFootball at the 2024 Asian Esports Games (AEG) in Thailand, marking the country’s first-ever podium finish in a football sports simulation esports title.
Pavan’s path to the bronze included a remarkable victory over 2022 eFootball World Finals Winner (Mobile), Asgard Azizi from Team Indonesia, with a score of 2-1, adding to the excitement of his performance.
Facing fierce competition from some of Asia’s best eFootball players, Pavan had a challenging start against eventual champion TXRO from Team Thailand.
Nevertheless, he demonstrated incredible perseverance and made a strong comeback, achieving hard-fought wins against competitors from Indonesia, Syria, and Laos, all with narrow 2-1 margins, ultimately securing a historic bronze medal. This stellar performance enabled Pavan to reach the Lower Bracket Final, where he valiantly contested against TXRO for a chance to enter the Grand Finals, but faced a close defeat.
An elated Pavan shared his thoughts on this accomplishment: “Winning this bronze feels surreal. It’s a monumental honor to represent India and bring home our first-ever medal in eFootball. The competition was fierce, but I’m proud of how I battled through the bracket. This is only the beginning, and I’m determined to achieve even greater success in future tournaments.”
Alongside the bronze medal, Pavan received a prize of USD 500 for his exceptional performance. Hailing from Sultanabad, his success is set to raise awareness about esports in an area where competitive gaming is still evolving. His triumph follows an unbeaten performance in Phase 1 of the WAVES Esports Championship eFootball, where he clinched the top position and secured a spot in the Grand Finale, scheduled for February 2025.
Lokesh Suji, the Director of the Esports Federation of India (ESFI), who presented the medals to the winners, expressed his pride in Pavan’s accomplishment: “As an Indian, it was a moment of immense pride and joy for me to award this historic medal to my fellow countryman. Pavan’s bronze is a testament to India’s growing strength and talent in esports. From past successes in titles like Tekken and DOTA to now making history in eFootball, Indian players continue to push boundaries and leave a mark on the global scene. This is yet another proud moment for Indian esports, and we look forward to many more in the near future.”
As the governing body for esports in India, ESFI has played a crucial role in promoting competitive gaming, being actively involved in events like the Asian Games 2018 and 2022, the Commonwealth Esports Championship 2022, and the BRICS Esports Championship 2024, where India achieved a historic silver medal.
With affiliations to the International Esports Federation, Asian Esports Federation, and Global Esports Federation, ESFI is dedicated to enhancing India’s presence on the global esports stage. (UNI)
