On August 28th (Vietnam time), the Korean League of Legends (LoL) team, led by captain Faker, officially launched their campaign for the ASIAD Hangzhou. For LCK, this year’s tournament is particularly significant as it marks the first time that LoL and esports in general have the opportunity to compete for medals. Of course, with a carefully selected lineup, Faker and his teammates have no other goal than to win the gold medal.
During the launch ceremony, Faker also shared some noteworthy insights, especially his reflections on the ASIAD 2018. It was a memorable event as it was the first time esports appeared at a continental sports event. Naturally, because it was only a demonstration, the LoL teams did not enjoy many of the privileges that traditional sports athletes have. That year, Faker and his teammates lost to the Chinese LoL team. This is also one reason why the Korean team is determined to seek revenge this time.
Additionally, Faker shared memories from ASIAD 2018 that surprised the audience. He noted, “In the last Asian Games, we only had one meal a day, consisting solely of bread. This time we get to eat a bit more than before, and I am satisfied.” This was confirmed by a representative from KeSPA. The reason shared was that, at that time, LoL was only for demonstration purposes, hence the budget for the team was very low. In contrast, this time, conditions have improved significantly. In fact, according to coach kkOma, KeSPA has prepared the best equipment to meet all the training needs of the players.
Faker’s comments have touched many fans of the “Demon King” and the Korean LoL team. Everyone knows that having to continuously engage the brain for a long period under stressful conditions requires a lot of energy. Yet, the players were only given very little to eat, if not less than that of an average person.
This time at ASIAD, everything has changed. And Faker along with his teammates must perform at their best. For Faker, his role is now even more critical as he is the leader of the national team competing at the largest sporting event in Asia. It is very likely that Faker’s performance will determine the success or failure of the Korean LoL team at this ASIAD.