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A milestone is being marked with the inclusion of esports as an official medal event at the Asian Games, currently underway in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, ChinaDaily reported.

The eyes of players from across Asia are firmly focused on the Games, with many of them viewing this inclusion as the latest boost to esports development.

Speaking in July at the 2023 Global Esports Summit in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, president of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation, said: "The Asian esports industry is booming, and has already unleashed its huge potential. It has the power to connect people from different backgrounds, cultures, countries and regions."

Esports was included in the Asian Games for the first time as a demonstration sport at the 2018 edition in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, with China winning two gold medals and a silver.

As an official medal sport this year in Hangzhou, esports features seven competitions: Arena of Valor Asian Games Version, Dota 2, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, League of Legends, PUBG Mobile Asian Games Version, Street Fighter V, and EA SPORTS' FIFA-branded soccer game.

Team China is taking part in six of the seven events, the exception being Street Fighter V. The 31 players on the Chinese team were selected from 125 candidates, while the five national team coaches for the six squads were selected from 27 contenders, according to ChinaDaily.

Zhu Kai, head coach of the Chinese League of Legends squad, said: "Since 2012, I have worked with League of Legends for 11 years, and I have coached many professional clubs that have won competitions. However, coaching the League of Legends national team at the Asian Games is a special honor and responsibility for me.

"All I need to do is ensure that our players have the best possible conditions for the Asian Games. We made careful plans before the start of our program, based on our experience in 2018 at the Asian Games in Jakarta and in the professional leagues."

Zhu said his players train for an average of 10 hours a day, and they have to abide by an extremely strict program and take adequate rest.

"During our training camp, we made many preparations for the players, including psychological counseling, training for major sports events, and even character tests," Zhu added.

Such experiences are new to the young players, most of whom have joined the national team for the first time.

This generation of players has experienced the dramatic growth of esports during the past decade. A mature professional league system, enthusiastic support for the national team, and a fast-growing industry were unimaginable for many of these players when they first took up esports.

Ji Xing, head coach of the Chinese League of Legends squad, which won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games, told Xinhua News Agency: "Ten years ago, when I joined my first esports club, I felt as though I had walked into an internet cafe hidden away in an old neighborhood. But look at what we have now. The industry is developing so fast that some clubs even have their buildings."

Since joining the sector in 2012, Ji has taken on many roles, including tactical analyst, coach, team leader and club manager. His most memorable career memory to date is the 2018 Asian Games, when he steered the Chinese team to gold in the demonstration event.

"I had seen sports champions win honors for our nation, but never thought that one day I would do the same. It's a great honor to make a contribution to the sector," Ji said.

A key reason for the popularity of esports is the fast-growing games industry.

A development report released for the 2023 Global Esports Summit and Tencent Esports Annual Conference in July said global esports audiences are expected to reach 574 million by the end of this year, and in 2025, the figure will likely grow to 641 million. By the end of this year, global esports revenue is forecast to reach $1.8 billion, the report said.

In February, a report released by the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association's electronics sports committee said Chinese esports audiences and players totaled 488 million last year.

Mars Hou, vice-president of Tencent Games and general manager of Tencent Esports, said, "Esports is a booming new industry in the digital era, and we have millions of esports players and spectators.

"We expect to have further communication and cooperation with more partners in sectors such as international communication, talent selection and nurturing, digital sports studies, and industry standardization."

Dreams come true

The inclusion of esports at a major event is a dream come true for many people who work in the sector, including Ji, former head coach of the Chinese League of Legends squad, who believes it will further boost the industry's global growth.

"The inclusion of esports at the Asian Games will allow more people in Asia and the world to familiarize themselves with esports, and more of them will probably decide to join this big family," Ji said.

In addition to the Asian Games, esports has attracted attention elsewhere. For example, the Olympic Esports Series, which was staged in March, is a global virtual and simulated sports competition created by the International Olympic Committee, or IOC, in collaboration with international federations and games publishers.

In June, the first-ever Olympic Esports Week was staged in Singapore. The four-day festival showcased a number of quality virtual sports and the latest simulated sports technologies and innovations. This event is designed to support the development of esports within the Olympic Movement and to engage with the competitive games community.

Different from the esports events at the Asian Games, the 10 games at the Olympic Esports Week were chosen by international federations to represent their sports, which are mostly simulations of traditional sports such as baseball, cycling and tennis.

IOC President Thomas Bach said in May, "Our approach to esports is to prioritize virtual sports — meaning reality sports — where there is physical activity, such as cycling and rowing. In the meantime, there is even an electronic form of taekwondo, along with a number of other sports.

"The physical activity of these athletes is on the same level as those engaged in traditional sports. Whether you're doing a leg of the Tour de France on your cycle at home, or doing the real leg, the physical activity and the challenges are the same."

In 2021, the IOC unanimously approved the Olympic Agenda 2020+5, which includes encouraging the development of virtual sports and engaging further with video games communities. But there are some "red lines".

Bach said, "When it comes to e-games, there is a very clear red line. Games that are contradictory to Olympic values, such as killer games or those that are discriminatory, are absolutely taboo to the Olympic Movement."

More than players

While many young esports enthusiasts can only dream of becoming top players, the industry is not solely about those who shine on the stage, as it comprises a variety of talent, including games designers, team managers and broadcasters.

Ji said: "Esports is an industry that can cooperate with many other sectors. In the future, it will be connected to more industries, which will create increased opportunities.

"For example, there is a need for experts to transform coaches' tactics and decisions into data and visual information so that we can better analyze our tactics. We need more talent."

Ji added that there are extremely high standards for professional players, but not all those who love esports will make it to the top.

"Truly talented professional players are not addicted to games. They have to be highly efficient and complete their tasks quickly. Moreover, becoming a successful professional player requires a lot more than merely having good skills. A player needs to have a strong mentality and know how to cooperate well with the team," Ji added.

One such example is commentator Guan Zeyuan, who has done well in esports, but not as a player.

"I wanted to become a professional player, but it was obvious that I'm not talented enough," said Guan, whose passionate style of commentary has attracted more than 7.5 million followers on social media.

"I want to continue being involved with esports. I remember the first time that I went to Brazil to work as a commentator in 2017. I was deeply impressed by the passion of the spectators. It was the first time I felt that the level of passion for esports could be as high as that for a soccer match, ChinaDaily reported.

"Esports has taught me a lot, including the need to be persistent, which is key to being successful. In this industry, I have met many great people, who have taught me a lot."

The number of complaints registered at the Press Council Nepal regarding the violation of the journalist code of conduct has risen significantly in recent times.

The Press Council Nepal has received a total of 132 complaints pertaining to the violation of journalist code of conduct in the last three months.

Among the complaints registered at the Council, 93 are related with defamation and character assassination, 25 with spreading rumors, two with bargaining and two with plagiarism.

Issuing a statement on Wednesday, assistant spokesperson Ram Sharan Bohara said that the four media outlets, which had published the news materials about the cases pending in the court, have been directed not to publish any news materials that may cause obstruction in justice delivery

After a complaint was registered at the Council stating that despite being acquitted by the Chitwan District Court on February 7, the video content on the case of inciting suicide, which is under considering at the court, is still in the media and YouTube and has been affecting his daily life, a meeting of the Code of Conduct Monitoring subcommittee held on September 19, 2023 had directed the concerned authority to delete the content.

Similarly, the meeting has decided to write to the Department of Information and Federation of Nepali Journalists urging them to provide necessary information about the two journalists who were found guilty in the fake educational certificate case while carrying out an investigation on the basis of complaints lodged at the Council.

The Press Council has also urged the concerned authority to conduct an investigation into the Himal Pari Ko Awaz Weekly, Dainik. Com and an independent journalist whether they have a press representative certificate of the Information Department and a membership card of the federation.

After a complaint was lodged against him, the Council had written to the Department of Information and Broadcasting to provide details about a person who called himself as an independent journalist. According to the complaint, the person has been asking the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Central Investigation Department and Foreign Employment Department among others to take action against the operators of incensed organizations and companies related to foreign employment under the guise of an independent journalist by spreading fake news.  

The decision was also made to hold a bilateral discussion on the issue.

Similarly, based on the complaints that the Halesipati.com was registered online by producing fake certificates and has been publishing exaggerated contents, the Council blacklisted the media. But after the Federal of Nepali Journalists Khotang chapter on September 21 had filed a complaint with the Council stating that it had resumed its business again.

Then the Council wrote to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to make arrangements that the website cannot be opened in Nepal.

Similarly, two journalists—one for recording the phone conversation and broadcasting the same from other media and publishing contents that disturbs social harmony and incites communal violence through social media—have been warned based on the complaints.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who is currently on a China visit, suffered a heart attack on Wednesday.

A CPN (Maoist Center) leader said that he has been admitted to a Beijing-based hospital after experiencing heart-related complications.

“He suffered a sudden heart attack on Wednesday. He was rushed to a hospital. Now his condition is normal,” the leader said.

According to a source, Minister Shrestha suffered a mild heart attack.

He reached Beijing on Monday evening to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Wang Xiaohong.

China had organized the Belt and Road Forum for the first time in 2017 and second time in 2019.

With Capital Rohit Paudel’s half century, hosts Nepal defeated the UAE by seven wickets in the inaugural match of the T20 International Triangular Series at the Mulpani Ground on Wednesday.

The UAE, who were invited to bat first after losing the toss, scored 140 runs at the loss of seven wickets.

Nepal reached the target of 141 runs in 18.5 overs losing three wickets.

Captain Paudel scored unbeaten 51 runs off 40 balls hitting five fours while Dipendra Singh Airee made unbeaten 34 runs off 23 balls with three fours and one six.

Similarly, Kushal Bhurtel contributed 14 runs and Kushal Malla returned to the pavilion by scoring 11 runs.

Karan KC took three wickets for Nepal. Likewise, Gulshan Jha claimed two wickets and Sompal Kami and Abhinas Jha took one wicket each.

Koshi Province Chief Minister Kedar Karki won a vote of confidence from the provincial Parliament on Wednesday.

In the 92 Province Assembly, Karki garnered 86 votes while five lawmakers cast their votes against Karki.

A lawmaker of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party was not present in the Province Assembly.

Karki was appointed as the chief minister with the support of the eight Province Assembly members of the Nepali Congress (Shekhar Koirala faction) and 39 of the CPN-UML on Saturday.

CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), Janata Samajbadi Party and CPN (Unified Socialist) cast a vote of confidence to Chief Minister Karki. Rastriya Prajatantra Party remained neutral or cast ‘no’ vote.

CPN-UML has 40 lawmakers, Nepali Congress 29, CPN (Maoist Center) 12, Rastriya Prajatantra Party six, CPN (Unified Socialist) four and Janata Samajbadi Party one in the Koshi Province Assembly.

Karki took the oath of office and secrecy on Sunday.

Chief Minister Karki has appointed Ram Bahadur Rana of UML and Shumsher Rai of Congress as ministers.

Karki was appointed as the chief minister as per Article 168 (5) of the Constitution.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka today said that sensitivity of citizens worldwide has increased along with the emergence of new challenges.

In his address to the special ceremony organized by the Nepal Army on the occasion of the United Nations Day, 2023 with the slogan 'peace starts with me’ in the Capital on Wednesday, the deputy prime minister said Nepal is committed to the vision, goals and objectives of the United Nations Charter.

He expressed the view that it is necessary to reconsider how to ensure peace amid new and complex challenges in order to maintain the trust and legitimacy of the UN peacekeeping.

Minister Khadka reminded about Nepal's commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter and the goal of world peace.

"The United Nations Charter is a guiding principle of Nepal's foreign policy," said the minister, "Nepal has always stressed for peace and equality in the international arena. Nepal is always committed to world peace and harmony."

Mentioning that our commitment is expressed in international treaties and agreements that promote disarmament and world peace and call for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, he said our peacekeepers are continuously contributing to the establishment of peace in the United Nations.

DPM Khadka said Nepal has always accepted the tireless efforts of the United Nations for world peace, progress and prosperity. "It has been 65 years since Nepal participated in the work of establishing world peace under the United Nations. We want to thank the UN for its trust in us."

At present, Nepal ranks second among the countries that send troops to the United Nations peacekeeping missions. There is a commitment that up to 10,000 trained peacekeepers can be mobilized for peacekeeping at the call of the United Nations, he said.

Nepal is making every possible effort to send capable women to the peacekeeping by meeting the set standards as per the United Nations-wide Gender Parity Strategy, he said.

In a clear indication of liquidity surplus in the banking system, most commercial banks have reduced interest rates on deposits for the month of Kartik, which begins on Wednesday.

As banks are flush with loanable funds, interbank lending rates have fallen below two percent. Taking advantage of these low rates and to absorb liquidity in the banking system, the government has increased domestic borrowing. It has already raised the debt it had targeted to raise in the second quarter.

The government has set a target of raising Rs 240bn internal domestic debt in the current fiscal year. Out of this amount, the central bank has already secured Rs 87.31bn. This includes Rs 35bn that the central bank had initially planned to raise in the second quarter, according to the Monetary Management Department of the NRB.

Out of the 20 commercial banks in operation, 13 have reduced interest rates on individual fixed deposits, while four have maintained the same interest rates as the previous month. Meanwhile, three have increased their interest rates.

Nepal SBI Bank, NMB Bank, and NIC Asia have raised interest rates on deposits due to pressure on their credit-deposit ratios.

Himalayan Bank, NIC Asia Bank, and NMB Bank will offer the highest interest rate of 11.003 percent on individual fixed deposits. In Ashwin, from mid-September to mid-October, Himalayan offered an interest rate of 11.054 percent, while NIC Asia and NMB Bank offered 10.896 percent and 9.99 percent, respectively.

On the other hand, Standard Chartered Bank will offer the lowest interest rate at 9.22 percent on individual fixed deposits. Likewise, Everest Bank, Prabhu Bank, Sanima Bank, and Nepal Bank Ltd will offer an interest rate of 9.224 percent, while Rastriya Banijya Bank Ltd will offer 9.5 percent, Agricultural Development Bank will offer 9.76 percent, and Citizens Bank Ltd will offer 9.95 percent interest on individual fixed deposits.

Similarly, Siddhartha Bank Ltd and Machhapuchchhre are maintaining the same interest rates as last month, which is 9.99 percent.

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) allows banks and financial institutions to adjust their interest rates by a maximum of 10 percent each month.

Similarly, interest rate on institutional fixed deposits should be two percentage points lower than interest rate on individual fixed deposits.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 43.27 points to close at 1,907.89 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 8.14 points to close at 366. 97 points.

A total of 3,772,023-unit shares of 286 companies were traded for Rs 934 billion.

Meanwhile, Asha Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Similarly, BPW Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top loser as its price fell by 4.62 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 92 trillion.