Mu Xinyue Makes History as First Female Esports Gold Medalist at Asian Games

Historic Win for Mu Xinyue

Nagoya (Japan), Oct 1: Mu Xinyue from China has etched her name in history as the first female athlete to secure a gold medal in esports at the Asian Games. This remarkable achievement came after her team triumphed over Japan in the final of the Identity V Asian Games Version during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

While the esports events at the Asian Games are inclusive of both genders, the male participants significantly outnumber the female athletes. Registration statistics for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games revealed that out of over 500 esports competitors, only 14 were women.

Reflecting on her victory, Mu expressed her disbelief, stating, "When I first started competing, I never imagined that I would be able to win a gold medal on the Asian Games stage. 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 a unique asymmetrical game where each match consists of two halves, with teams alternating between playing as survivors and hunters. The survivor team, comprising four players, competes against one hunter, with points awarded based on the number of survivors who escape and the hunter's eliminations, according to reports.

The Chinese team for Identity V included hunters Shi Xiangwei and Sun Le, alongside survivors Lu Shujia, Chen Mingming, Lu Yahui, Fan Siqi, and Mu. Notably, Mu, known in-game as "Tao Wan'an," is the sole female representative in China's esports delegation at the Games.

The final match was fiercely contested, with the teams tying the first two rounds at 4-4 and 5-5. China then took the lead in the third round with a score of 7-2. The fourth round ended in another tie at 4-4, leading to a decisive fifth round where China established a 3-1 lead, ultimately securing their victory.

Shi, who plays under the ID "Nianjin," shared that competing at the Asian Games brings a different level of responsibility compared to professional leagues. "There is a change of identity, and there is also greater responsibility on your shoulders," he noted. "You can feel nervous and pressured, but it’s crucial not to let that affect your gameplay. Embrace the nerves and pressure, and just play your normal game."

The final faced a nearly 30-minute delay due to a technical issue with the network cable, but Mu maintained her composure during the interruption. "I didn't really have any emotional fluctuations at that time," the 20-year-old remarked. "We just waited to see what the referees and the organisers would decide. All we needed to do was wait patiently."

Esports made its debut as a demonstration sport at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and became an official medal sport at Hangzhou in 2023. The number of medal events has expanded from seven in Hangzhou to 11 at Aichi-Nagoya, with Identity V making its first appearance as an Asian Games event.

China participated in four of the 11 esports events at Aichi-Nagoya, including Naraka: Bladepoint, Honour of Kings, Game for Peace Asian Games Version, and Identity V Asian Games Version. The country secured gold medals in Naraka: Bladepoint and Honour of Kings, along with a silver in Game for Peace Asian Games Version, culminating in three golds and one silver in their esports campaign.