India's 24-member Esports team is ready to kick off its journey towards the Asian Games 2026, set to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The League of Legends and Honor of Kings teams are slated to participate in regional qualifiers in Malaysia later this month. Odisha's Sports Minister, Suryabanshi Suraj, recently unveiled the official Team India Esports jersey, accompanied by senior government officials and representatives from the Esports Federation of India (ESFI).
The National Esports Championship (NESC) 2026 serves as India's official qualification route for the Asian Games, featuring competitions in nine esports disciplines and ten medal events. These include League of Legends, Honor of Kings, Pokemon Unite, Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, The King of Fighters XV, Gran Turismo 7, Puyo Puyo Champions, and eFootball (Mobile and Console). The championship concluded with LAN finals held in Pune, Kochi, and New Delhi, showcasing some of the nation's top esports talent.
The squad is a mix of seasoned players and rising stars, highlighting the expanding landscape of India's esports scene. Noteworthy performances included 15-year-old Abdus Salaam Mohammed, who won the Gran Turismo 7 title, and Paritosh, who triumphed in Puyo Puyo Champions after a remarkable comeback against Asian Games 2018 bronze medalist Tirth Mehta.
Lokesh Suji, Director of the Esports Federation of India and Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation, remarked, "Competing for India in all ten medal events marks a significant achievement for Indian esports, showcasing the impressive growth of our esports ecosystem and the emerging talent across various disciplines. We are proud of our 23-member team, which includes some of the finest esports athletes in the country. The jersey unveiling adds to the excitement as our athletes gear up for international competition. We appreciate the support from the Government of Odisha."
The championship highlighted the competitive nature of India's esports environment, with teams like IQOO Revenant XSpark and S8UL Esports vying for national titles. S8UL secured the League of Legends championship, while IQOO Revenant XSpark claimed victories in both Honor of Kings and Pokemon Unite, overcoming formidable opponents during the qualification process.
With Indian representation confirmed in eight esports titles, the focus now shifts to Malaysia, where the League of Legends and Honor of Kings teams will compete in the regional qualifiers for the Asian Games 2026. The Honor of Kings team will compete from June 12-14, followed by the League of Legends team from June 13-20, both aiming to secure their spots in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The remaining spots on Team India were filled by some of the country's top esports athletes in individual events. Danial Shakeel Patel, a gold medalist at the WAVES Esports Championship, won in eFootball Mobile, while Chinmay Sahoo took the eFootball Console title. Street Fighter 6 champion Prateek Singh Bhaunt showcased his versatility by competing in multiple events before qualifying in SF6. Gobind Singh Bedi (The King of Fighters XV) and Gurashish Singh (Tekken 8) also secured their places as national champions.
With India's best finish in esports at the Asian Games being a fifth-place result in League of Legends at Hangzhou 2022, Team India aims to elevate its performance in Aichi-Nagoya 2026. The ESFI is dedicated to empowering Indian athletes to compete and excel at the highest levels of continental esports.
League of Legends (Champions - S8UL Esports): Akshaj Shenoy (Captain); Rahul Bisht; Sanindhya Malik; Aakash Shandilya; Ahmed Shahid Israr; Mihir Ranjan
Honor of Kings (Champions - IQOO Revenant XSpark): Ainul Abbas Haidery (Captain); Harsh Jagdish Lal; Aayush Sharma; Akshaj Behal; Aashish Chouhan
Pokemon Unite (Champions - IQOO Revenant XSpark): Sai Krishna Nalluri (Captain); Adnan Mohammed Badshah; Dipjyoti Laxman Nath; Rudra Narayan Nayak; Reuben Godfrey Fernandes
Street Fighter 6: Prateek Singh Bhaunt
The King of Fighters XV: Gobind Singh Bedi
Tekken 8: Gurashish Singh
Gran Turismo 7: Abdus Salaam Mohammed
Puyo Puyo Champions: Paritosh
eFootball (Mobile): Danial Shakeel Patel
eFootball (Console): Chinmay Sahoo.
