Zahraa Khan crowned African Tekken Queen
Zahraa Khan, known as 'Iron-Fist,' emerged victorious as the African Tekken Queen at the Mzansi Esports Champions 2024.
Khan participated in the Mzansi Esports Champions 2024, which was held during the rAge Expo in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Organised by SAGES Africa, services for Africa Gaming and Esports, the Mzansi Esports Champions was a highlight of the Tekken Africa Queens Challenge, an initiative supported by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).
The event was aimed at elevating women talent in esports, fostering inclusivity and empowerment in the gaming industry.
Tekken is a Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fighting games.
Khan, 27, originally from Queensburgh but now residing in Johannesburg, showcased her prowess against formidable competitors from across the continent, including players from Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Eswatini, Namibia, Zambia, and Lesotho. The competition sought to reward the best gaming talent with a prize pool of $2,500.
Khan, who is into Tekken and fighting games, has been playing competitively for seven years.
She said this win would open more doors for her to compete internationally and solidify her status as a competitor.
"I have been working as hard as I can at tournaments so that I can proudly say I'm up there with the best of the best Tekken players in South Africa, especially in a male-dominated society. I hope that I have inspired other women to play and keep playing. This was my first ever all-female tournament and I would like to see more of these in the future,” she said.
Khan's journey to the championship began in October, when an online qualifier was held among six participants, leading to her selection as South Africa's representative.
She said there was a thrill of competing and winning.
"It's a different experience when you sit in a room full of people that share the same passion as you and you enjoy the environment that you are in and don't have to feel judged because you like video games. I have been told by some male gamers that I should not be playing games, I should be cooking. There are other males who are welcoming and say there is a need for more female representatives in gaming around the world," said Khan.
She said it has always been her dream to compete internationally.
"But the international pros are on another level compared to South Africa. As much as the South African community has grown in Esport it is still a niche community. It would be nice to see more female gamers in the country," she said.
The law graduate's first taste of gaming was at the age of three when her dad bought her a Playstation 1.
"I was born with a controller in my hand," laughed Khan.
When asked why Iron Fist, Khan said she stole the name from a friend because she thought it sounded cool.
Désiré Koussawo, President of SAGES Africa, said he wanted to make a difference and highlight that females can also make the show if given the opportunity.
“This was a dynamic, highly competitive and invigorating esports championship featuring some of the best women gamers on the continent,” said Koussawo.
He said esports was one way to explain that women can do everything that men are doing.
"Gaming is one of the biggest entertainment industries in the world. There are a lot of opportunities in gaming," said Koussawo.