Esports: Meet India’s FIFA Online 4 team at Asian Games 2023

The Asian Games 2023 will see esports make its debut as a medal sport at the showpiece event. 

The medals at the 19th edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China, from September 23 to October 8, will be awarded in seven esports events, including FIFA Online 4. 

Developed by EA Sports, FIFA Online 4 is one of the most popular massively multiplayer online (MMO) football games.

India’s FIFA Online 4 team comprises the country’s No. 1 Charanjot Singh and Karman Singh Tikka. Both players qualified for the Asian Games by virtue of reaching the final at the National Esports Championships (NESC) organised by the Esports Federation of India (ESFI).

Earlier this month, Charanjot Singh topped the Asian Games 2023 FIFA Online 4 South Asia seeding event in Seoul, the Republic of Korea to assure himself of a favourable draw. He remained unbeaten against gamers from Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. All matches were played in a best-of-three format.

Charanjot Singh’s fellow Indian esports player Karman Singh Tikka secured fifth position at the seeding event. 

A total of 21 top FIFA Online teams from the continent will be vying for medals at the 2023 Asian Games.

India's FIFA Online 4 team for Asian Games 2023

Charanjot Singh 

Charanjot Singh will spearhead India’s challenge in FIFA Online 4 at the Asian Games. The 20-year-old college student from Chandigarh is ranked No. 1 in India and beat Karman Singh Tikka 4-1 and 6-5 in the final of the national championships to secure his place in the Asian Games squad. His consistent success has led to India being ranked sixth in the world of FIFA esports.

Charanjot has emerged as the winner of the ESL India Premiership and the AIFF eFootball Challenge twice. He also won the ILG Cup Season 3.

He finished as the runner-up in the eISL last year and has also triumphed in the Esportz Premiership India and Nostra Gaming competitions on two occasions.

In global events, Charanjot claimed the top prizes at the FGS Singapore Open, FGS South Asia Play-ins, FIFA eNations Asia Playoffs and FAS eSports Championship. Moreover, he has represented India in various locations such as Denmark, London, Qatar, and Malaysia.

When he is not playing FIFA or watching the sport on TV, Charanjot Singh is out on the foorball field. Charanjot didn’t own a console until a few years ago and started playing on a friend’s desktop. It was after his first win, at the EA Road to Russia event in 2018, that his parents bought him his own. After seeing their son’s achievements till now, they now see esports as a viable career option.

Achievements

• India No. 1 FIFA Online 4 player 
• Two-time AIFF eFootball Challenge winner
• Two-time winner at ESL India premiership
• ILG Cup Season 3 winner
• Two-time winner at AIFF eFootball Challenge
• Esportz Premiership India winner
• Two-time winner at Nostra Gaming
• FGS Singapore Open winner
• FGS South Asia Playins winner
• FIFA eNations Asia Playoffs winner
• FAS eSports Championship winner

Karman Singh Tikka

Karman Singh Tikka, also known by his in-game name tikkatown, is a 20-year-old FIFA Online 4 player from India’s national capital Delhi. 

He clinched second place in the inaugural eISL championships and emerged as a champion in the Community Cup last year. Karman Singh Tikka’s skills have also helped him secure first place in the AIFF eFootball Challenge Qualifier. He achieved a top-four finish in the ESL India Premiership Cup 8.

Karman started watching football in 2009. He witnessed Chelsea’s victory in the Premier League and immediately became their lifelong supporter. However, in FIFA 22, Karman chooses Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as his team of choice as they have “the best dribblers in the game.”

Achievements

• AIFF eFootball Challenge Qualifier winner
• First grand championship winner FIFA19
• Theesportsclub Comic Con winner 
• Lxg Minor 1 Winner 
• Lxg Minor Winner 
•  Winner of Alienware Fifa Cup