India's Esports Team Gears Up for Asian Games 2026 Qualification
India's Esports Contingent Prepares for Asian Games
New Delhi, June 10: A 24-member Esports team from India 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 scheduled to participate in regional qualifiers in Malaysia later this month.
In a ceremony ahead of the qualifiers, Odisha's Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj introduced the official Team India Esports jersey, attended by senior 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 vying for national selection.
This squad is a mix of seasoned players and rising stars, highlighting the expanding landscape of India's esports scene. Notably, 15-year-old Abdus Salaam Mohammed, the Gran Turismo 7 champion, stands out as one of the youngest members, while Paritosh, the Puyo Puyo Champions winner, made headlines with a stunning lower-bracket comeback that led to a victory over 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 in all ten medal events is a landmark achievement for Indian esports, showcasing the impressive growth of our esports ecosystem and the emerging talent across various disciplines. We take immense pride in our 23-member team, which includes some of the finest esports athletes in the country. The launch of the Team India jersey adds to the significance of this moment as our athletes gear up for international competition. We appreciate the support from the Government of Odisha.”
The championship also highlighted the competitive nature of India's esports environment, with IQOO Revenant XSpark and S8UL Esports battling for national titles. S8UL secured the League of Legends championship, while IQOO Revenant XSpark triumphed in both Honor of Kings and Pokemon Unite, overcoming formidable opponents like S8UL and QML during the qualification process.
Sai Krishna Nalluri (RNTX_Vulcan), Captain of IQOO Revenant XSpark, expressed, “It’s a special honor to represent India. We understand the challenges ahead in the qualifiers and are training diligently to face the best teams in the region. Our aim is to secure our spot at the Asian Games and perform at our peak to make our country proud.”
With Indian athletes already 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 Asian Games 2026 regional qualifiers. 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 places in Aichi-Nagoya.
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, while Gobind Singh Bedi (The King of Fighters XV) and Gurashish Singh (Tekken 8) completed the roster of national champions representing India.
Gurashish Singh, the Tekken 8 National Champion, stated, “It’s a dream to represent India. I’m thankful for all the support I’ve received. My focus is on preparing thoroughly, improving daily, and giving my best to honor my country on one of Asia’s largest platforms.”
Prateek Singh Bhaunt (b_HAUNT), the Street Fighter 6 National Champion, added, “Having competed in NESC multiple times, it’s incredibly fulfilling to see my hard work pay off. Representing India is a proud moment, and I’m eager for the challenges ahead. My focus is on preparing well and performing at my best to make my country proud on the international stage.”
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 as it heads towards Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Building on this momentum, the ESFI is dedicated to empowering Indian athletes to excel at the highest levels of continental esports.
Team India Esports Squad – Asian Games 2026 Qualification Cycle
Team Events
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
Individual Events
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.