Charanjot Singh is one of the FIFA Esports rising stars in India. He proved his caliber on the world stage by qualifying for the FIFAe Nations Cup both in 2022 and 2023 to represent his nation India.
I sat down with him to discuss about his journey in FIFA Esports, his introduction to the game, and his ambitions at the Asian Games.
It took some time for the FIFA competitive segment to reach India. The popularity of football video games in India, with its large population of young football enthusiasts, was inevitable. The challenge, however, was to transform casual gaming into a viable career path.
How has life been for you since you realized you will be representing India in FIFA during the Asian Games
Charanjot: I believe that the situation has changed, though not significantly, due to my previous experience of representing India. Representing India in a tournament or competition, such as the Asian Games, means a great deal to me. Not only that, but I also get recognition from journalists, people around me, and even my cousins.
So, yes, in the past, people thought that it was just a game of who you played. However, now when I represent India, I can gain international recognition from all over the world.
What was your experience like at the FIFAe Nations Cup 2023? Are there any lessons you took back from that event?
Charanjot: The experience was remarkable, with India being one of the top twenty-four nations in the world using FIFA. This is a significant achievement for India.
It can be said that India joined FIFA esports in 2021, and is already among the top ten nations, rather than the twenty-four. Last year, we qualified for nations in Denmark, and this year we qualified again in Saudi Arabia, which was held in Riyadh. We had the opportunity to meet many players from other countries, as well as some footballers from Saudi Arabia.
We were able to gain a great deal of knowledge from South American nations, which are often ahead of other nations in terms of understanding mechanics in-game.
Do you remember your introduction FIFA (game), and when did you decide that you wanted to be a professional player?
Charanjot: In 2018, I began playing FIFA through local tournaments in my hometown of Chandigarh. However, I did not want a console at the time, so I played FIFA casually at my friend’s house. Whenever a tournament was held, I would attend and observe the proceedings.
In 2020, I became interested in tournaments when a number of tournaments began to be held online, such as ESL tournaments in 2020, and there were a few other tournaments taking place. During the lockdown period, I began playing professionally for the first time. In 2020 I signed my first eSports contract.
Bryan: During the recent eISL season you came 2nd in the league.
How was your experience being a part of the league and getting up to the Grand Ginals ?
Charanjot: The experience of participating in the second edition of the Indian Super League (eISL) was remarkable as it was my first time in the tournament. During the inaugural season, I was unable to participate due to a 40-day bio bubble period due to Covid-19 protocols. Due to college and subsequent tournaments, it is common for players to travel for their participation.
However, this year I took part in the tournament, representing Bengaluru FC as one of two players representing the club. We had a close final match against Northeast United. I won our first match, so we were one nil up in a best-of-three series. In the second match which was a 2 versus 2 match. Sadly we lost on penalties. In the last match, of the series, Sarnik lost out narrowly against his opponent resulting in us coming second.
Bryan: Getting into your journey in the Asian Games, recently you went to Seoul, Korea for the seeding part of the tournament and you came back home with 3 wins under your belt.
How was that experience for you to play in a new country and represent your nation?
Charanjot: When we arrived in the country, we had no expectations, as we were unfamiliar with the FIFA Online 4 Game. We had no knowledge of the gameplay, as it is quite distinct from FIFA 23. However, we had a day or two of practice, as it is similar to the meta of the preceding four FIFA games in a single game.
Our first match, played against Nepal, was a narrow victory. We then won two out of three series against Sri Lanka, and our final match was a comfortable 2-nil victory against Bangladesh. The experience was captivating, as the Korean and Japanese players taught us a great deal, as we had no idea how to assemble our team.
Bryan: You went undefeated into the Asian Games,
Do you feel there is more pressure on you now, on top of the pressure of representing your nation at the Asian Games?
Charanjot: It is possible that this is the case, as when I arrived at the Asian Games, there were interviews and mentions that I was the favorite, even among the Korean players who were familiar with me from FIFA. It is always difficult when one is labeled as a favorite but at I am used to this due to competing for so many years.
I have already won three matches and will be going into the Asian Games as the first seed as a South Asian player. Due to this, I hope we can provide an easier match during the initial rounds. I am performing better now because whenever there is a tournament, such as a LAN event, where there is only one spot available and the stakes are high, I tend to perform well. Therefore, I believe that the pressure of being the favorite makes me perform better.
In your opinion what can be done to increase the opportunities within India for the game of FIFA in the next few years?
Charanjot: I believe that the presence of more tournaments, such as those that are streamed and broadcasted on various platforms, such as eISL, will have a positive impact on the penetration of FIFA and football, particularly with the recent growth of football in India.
However, the growth of the game is still in a learning stage, similar to the dormant stage, and the cost of the console is prohibitive.
I believe that it is difficult for people to access FIFA in eSports due to the console’s cost, which is approximately Rs 50,000.
Anything you would like to tell your fans as well as fans of FIFA within India?
Charanjot: I would like to express my gratitude for the ongoing support of FIFA ESports. At present, FIFA Esports is receiving a great deal of attention, whereas previously, such as last year, we produced only 3-4 tournaments and received no recognition from any platform.
Therefore, I would like to extend my gratitude to all those who have contributed financially to the FIFA esports endeavors, as I believe that we are still undervalued as an Esports and as a community within the Indian region but hoping with time our community does receive the exposure it deserves.
Read next: Top 10 FIFA 23 Players in 2023
About Post Author
