KUALA LUMPUR: Some people excel in their studies, some in sports, and there are those a class above the others in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).
According to para athlete star, Datuk Abdul Latif Romly and former badminton doubles ace Tan Boon Heong, eSports is here to stay, given its growing popularity around the globe.
In fact, the duo believe that youngsters should be encouraged to play mobile games, especially now with the strong support of the Youth and Sports Ministry.
Speaking after the M5 launch ceremony on Saturday, in conjunction with the start of the M5 World Championship in Manila, Latif said: "I personally think there shouldn't be a debate anymore on whether eSports should be officially categorised as a sport or not.
"Looking at how these professional gamers train, it's as intense, if not more than what we traditional athletes go through. "The concentration and the amount of brain power needed is no joke."
Latif, a two-time Paralympic gold medallist in long jump (T20), said he will be cheering on and following closely Malaysia's Team HomeBois and SMG at the fifth World Championships in Manila, The M5 world meet features the world's top 16 teams, who will battle it out for the US$900,000 (RM4.2 million) prize pool.
Boon Heong, a former world No. 1 with partner Koo Kien Keat, said that in order for Malaysia to be a powerhouse in eSports, the negative perception about it must change.
"Growing up, we were usually discouraged by our parents from playing too much games. In fact, the emphasis has always been on education. Even for traditional sports, parents would only start supporting, when they see results.
"Times have changed. We must realise that not everybody is the same. Some excel in their studies, and some are great in sports. Then there are those who are great in eSports.
"Not to mention the huge amount of money that's pumped into the industry. Gamers now can earn way more than badminton players.
"To be honest, I encourage my kids to play MLBB, and I'm learning to play from them. "Don't get me wrong, education is important, but it is more crucial to understand what your children are good at," added Boon Heong.
Boon Heong and Latif have thrown their support behind eSports by joining the "Kembara MLBB YuZhong" campaign, held in conjunction with the M5 World Championship. The campaign, which features a tour, concluded with the finale on Saturday at Central Market, Kuala Lumpur.
The tour, which spanned over four weeks, included cities such as Ipoh, Melaka, and various universities. The objective of the tour is to create awareness of the similarities between both fields (traditional sports and eSports), interact with fans and demonstrate that eSports is just as competitive, and physically and mentally demanding as traditional sports.
The overarching goal is to emphasise that whether engaging in traditional sports or eSports, both sets of athletes adhere to strict training regimen and compete with the shared aim of bringing glory to Malaysia.