Asian Games: China's Mu Xinyue Makes History With Esports Gold

Esports competitions at the Asian Games are open to athletes of all genders, but female participation remains limited. More than 500 athletes were registered for esports at Aichi-Nagoya, with only 14 women among them.

Reflecting on her historic achievement, Mu said she had never expected to reach the top of the podium when she began competing.

"When I first started competing, I never imagined that I would be able to win a gold medal on the Asian Games stage," Mu said. "When the national anthem was played, and the gold medal was around my neck, I was so excited and happy. I think this may be the happiest moment of my life."

Identity V is an asymmetrical competitive game featuring two teams that alternate between the roles of survivors and hunters. Each round has four players competing as survivors against one hunter, with points determined by the number of survivors who escape and the eliminations made by the hunter.

China's squad featured hunters Shi Xiangwei and Sun Le, along with survivors Lu Shujia, Chen Mingming, Lu Yahui, Fan Siqi and Mu. Mu, who competes under the in-game name "Tao Wan'an", was the only woman in China's esports delegation at the Games.

The final against Japan went down to the wire. The opening two rounds ended level at 4-4 and 5-5 before China took control with a 7-2 win in the third round.

Japan responded with another 4-4 draw in the fourth round, forcing the contest into a deciding fifth round. China established a 3-1 advantage during the first half of the final round, securing the margin required to claim the gold medal.

Shi, whose in-game name is "Nianjin", said representing China at the Asian Games brought a different level of responsibility compared with competing on the professional circuit.

"First of all, there is a change of identity, and there is also greater responsibility on your shoulders," Shi said. "You can be nervous, and you can feel pressure, but you shouldn't let the pressure and nerves affect your performance in the game. Accept the nerves and the pressure, face them naturally, and just play your normal game."

The final was briefly halted because of a technical problem between the two halves of the fourth round. Play was suspended for nearly 30 minutes because of an issue with an on-site network cable before the match resumed.

Mu said the unexpected break did not affect her emotionally.

"I didn't really have any emotional fluctuations at that time," the 20-year-old said. "We just waited to see what the referees and the organisers would decide. All we needed to do was wait patiently."

Esports first appeared at the Asian Games as a demonstration event at Jakarta 2018 before becoming a full medal sport at Hangzhou 2023. The number of esports medal events has increased from seven at Hangzhou to 11 at Aichi-Nagoya, with Identity V making its Asian Games debut at the current edition.

China competed in four of the 11 esports disciplines at Aichi-Nagoya. It won gold in Naraka: Bladepoint and Honour of Kings, took silver in Game for Peace Asian Games Version and added the Identity V title on Wednesday.

China therefore finished its esports campaign with three gold medals and one silver.