Kenneth Fok, vice-president of Hong Kong’s Sports Federation and Olympic Committee, has been elected president of the Asian Electric Sports Federation, replacing Kazakhstan’s Natalya Sipovich.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Kenneth was elected to the AESF unopposed, after his predecessor Natalya Sipovich ended her decade-long service as president.[/perfectpullquote]

In a statement released Tuesday from the organisation, Fok said:

“This is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, especially in Asia. These are exciting times because technology is changing so quickly, so it’s important that we work with our partners and expand our scope beyond today.”

The new AESF president is the son of Timothy Fok, President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. Kenneth was elected to the AESF unopposed, after his predecessor Sipovich recently announced her resignation during an AESF Executive Board meeting, ending her decade-long service as president.

Sipovich reportedly resigned so a younger group could take over and lead the Federation. “It has been my great honor to serve as president, but after 10 years I think it is time for a younger person to take over because this is a sport that really belongs to younger people,” Sipovich said in a statement.

[perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Fok’s connection to the Olympic Board could see the Asian Olympic Committee look fondly on esports inclusion in The Games.[/perfectpullquote]

Fok’s connection to the Olympic Board could see the Asian Olympic Committee look fondly on esports inclusion in the Olympics, a discussion that has cropped up repeatedly in recent months. These range from the IOC president controversially warning against violent video games in the Olympics, to Paris Olympic committee president Tony Estanguet opening the possibility of esports matches at the newly confirmed 2024 Paris games.

However Fok is not ignorant to the legitimate concerns of introducing video games to an Olympic event. In his first public address as president, the 38 year old Oxford graduate said that esports must “face up” to cynicism over whether it is a sport or not, and adopt regulations on doping and fair play.

For one thing, Fok was speaking in Ashagabat, host city of the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG). This Olympic sanctioned competition that has been mired in controversy after multiple esports federations boycotted due to Alisports’ organisation of the tournament and fears over gaming addiction.

UPDATE, 26.09.2017: On top of Kenneth Fok’s election, the AESF also elected Lokesh Suji of the Esports Federation of India, as a board member and VP for South Asia. Other new additions to the board include Qatar’s Sheik Abdullah Faleh Al Thani, and Kazakhstan’s Saken Mussaibekov, who will represent West and Central Asia respectively.

Further representatives for China, Oceania as well as vice-presidents from the AIMAG and the Indonesia Asian Games 2018 Organizing Committee, will be confirmed by the country’s respective National Olympic Committees.