In the eFootball tournament, India won against Mongolia by forfeit because Mongolia’s team leader arrived three minutes late, which is considered a forfeiture under the competition rules. Although India was declared the winner in this match, the win came with a 0-0 scoreline, meaning no goals were recorded. This created a complex situation affecting India’s standing in the group stage.
India had drawn 0-0 with Uzbekistan, while Uzbekistan had defeated Mongolia. Because the forfeited win against Mongolia didn't add any goals to India's tally, their goal difference stayed at zero. This ultimately prevented India from finishing at the top of their group or as the best second-place team, a requirement to advance further in the competition. As a result, despite technically winning against Mongolia, India was eliminated from medal contention.
The Indian team protested the ruling, but overturning a forfeiture due to late arrival is extremely difficult since the rules are clear on this matter. The team also considered requesting a judge panel review, which would have cost $1500, but decided against it, understanding the rule's strict enforcement. The controversy highlights the importance of every minute in competitive eSports events, especially at prestigious games like the Asian Games.
Daniel Patel, the reigning EFootball Asian champion and a key Indian player, had been a hopeful for bringing home a medal. Unfortunately, the unusual circumstances of Mongolia's delayed arrival and the resulting forfeiture with a scoreless result deprived India of a chance to advance, marking a bizarre moment in the Asian Games eSports history.