Last Updated On
January 22, 2026
Image credit: Tencent Esports
Tencent Esports has announced a ten-year strategic partnership with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
As a result of the deal, the esports branch of the tech conglomerate becomes the official esports technology partner of the OCA.
According to a release, the partnership aims to ‘propel the integration of esports and traditional sports’ within Asia. The deal was formalised during the OCA’s Executive Board Meeting in Bahrain in October 2025.
In addition to supporting the integration of esports into Asia’s traditional sporting landscape, the deal sees Yati Zhang, Director of Tencent Esports, appointed as OCA Esports Manager. In the role, Zhang will play a role in constructing a range of events taking place across the continent and the development of Asia’s esports ecosystem.
“This partnership is not just an upgrade in title, but a unification of responsibility,” said Dr. Husain Al-Musallam, Director General of the OCA.
“It signals that Asian esports has moved from an era of participation to one of system co-construction. We look forward to working with Tencent Esports to set a sustainable example for the healthy development of esports in Asia and globally.”
The OCA is no stranger to collaborating with Tencent Esports. In 2022, the two parties first joined forces to start promoting the development of esports in Asia. The partnership also saw both parties work together for the 19th Asian Games, which took place in Hangzhou after it was postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Next For Tencent?
Over the past 12 months, Tencent has continued to invest heavily in esports across the world. In February 2025, it partnered with the Esports World Cup Foundation with the aim of expanding the Esports World Cup‘s reach in China.
July 2025 saw the company reveal the esports roadmap for VALORANT Mobile in China, providing players in the country with a platform to showcase their skills on the mobile version of the FPS title.
Jonno is a writer for Esports Insider and has been part of the team since 2019. Over the past ten years, he’s written for several outlets including Gfinity, GGRecon, and Radio Times. As an avid sim racer, he aims to provide insight on one of the fastest growing sectors in esports.
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