Vietnamese League of Legends team has a strong chance of winning a medal at the ASIAD Games.

Sofm in the national team jersey at ASIAD 2019. Photo: ASIAD .

The landscape for League of Legends (LoL) at the 2026 Asian Games (ASIAD) has undergone a major change. The Chinese national team has officially decided not to send a representative to compete in this event.

China's withdrawal has sent shockwaves through the international esports community. Along with South Korea, China has always been an absolute dominant force in the world of League of Legends. At the 2022 Asian Games, despite only winning a bronze medal, they were still the biggest contenders challenging for the championship.

This decision by China has directly altered the tournament structure. While South Korea has become the sole contender for the gold medal, the race for the remaining top three spots is now more open than ever for the teams below them.

The official roster of the Vietnamese national League of Legends team participating in the Asian Games. Photo: Viresa.

At the previous Asian Games, the Vietnamese team finished in fourth place after narrowly losing to China in the bronze medal match. Therefore, having one spot in the top 3 vacant brings the goal of winning Vietnam's first ASIAD League of Legends medal closer to reality.

To prepare for this historic campaign, Vietnam has announced its high-quality official roster. The core team includes outstanding players such as Kiaya, Dire, Eddie, Taki, and Hizto. Notably, star player Le Quang Duy “SofM” will return as the jungler. The coaching staff consists of the duo Ciel and Naul.

However, great opportunities always come with real challenges. Before even thinking about the finals in Japan in September, the Vietnamese team must overcome the qualifying round taking place from June 12-14 in Malaysia. There, we will have to compete for a spot with 13 other countries in the region, including formidable opponents like Hong Kong and emerging powers from the Middle East.

Furthermore, China's absence is only a necessary condition. To stand on the podium, Vietnam still has to overcome the major obstacle named Chinese Taipei - the reigning runner-up of the tournament. The team's composure in knockout matches and the coaching staff's ability to quickly build team cohesion will be the decisive factors in determining success or failure.

Assessing the landscape of this year's tournament, many domestic esports experts believe that the door to winning an Asian Games medal has never been wider open for Vietnam than it is now. However, the final decision still rests with the preparation and actual performance of the players on the battlefield.

Source: https://znews.vn/lmht-viet-nam-sang-cua-huy-chuong-asiad-post1655501.html