Park So-yeon first woman to play for eSports powerhouse South Korea

Park So-yeon is set to become the first woman to represent South Korea's national team in eSports and wants to pave the way for more in the male-dominated world of competitive gaming.

South Korea is an eSports powerhouse and Park has been chosen to compete in survival horror game Identity V at the Asian Games in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area from September 19 to October 4.

The 23-year-old Park, the only woman in South Korea's team of 36 eSports competitors heading to Japan, said she wanted to "go all out and have no regrets".

"Since I am the first I feel a great responsibility to pave the way for other women athletes who love playing games as much as I do," said Park, who majored in taekwondo in college.

South Korea's formidable team will be spearheaded by superstar gamer Lee Sang-hyeok.

Better known as Faker, he was part of the South Korea team that won gold in League of Legends at the 2023 Asian Games in China's Hangzhou.

"Since the South Korean people have high hopes for the eSports category I want to fulfil that hope and give them back pride and honour," he said.

"I will do my very best in my role to ensure that our team wins the championship and brings back the gold medal."

South Korea won two golds, one silver and one bronze at the 2023 Asian Games, when eSports made its debut as an official medal event.

They were second in the medals table behind China.

The number of eSports events has risen for this year's Asian Games, with 13 different games being used in competition.