India’s 24-member Esports team is preparing for the Asian Games 2026 qualifiers in Malaysia. Odisha Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj unveiled the official Team India Esports Jersey ahead of their campaign for League of Legends and Honor of Kings.
The Indian Esports contingent is set to embark on its journey towards the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with the League of Legends and Honor of Kings teams scheduled to participate in regional qualification events in Malaysia later this month. Prior to the qualification campaign, Odisha Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj unveiled the official Team India Esports Jersey in the presence of senior government officials and representatives from the Esports Federation of India (ESFI), as stated in a press release.
National Esports Championship 2026
The National Esports Championship (NESC) 2026, which serves as India’s official qualification pathway for the Asian Games, featured competitions across nine esports disciplines and ten medal events, including 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, bringing together some of the country’s top esports athletes and teams vying for national selection.
The squad showcases a mix of seasoned competitors and rising talent from across the nation, highlighting the expanding depth of India’s esports ecosystem. Notable stories from NESC 2026 include 15-year-old Gran Turismo 7 champion Abdus Salaam Mohammed, one of the youngest athletes in the team, and Puyo Puyo Champions winner Paritosh, who secured his spot through an impressive lower-bracket run that ended with a victory over Asian Games 2018 bronze medallist Tirth Mehta.
Lokesh Suji, Director of the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) and Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF), stated, “Representing India across all ten medal events is a significant milestone for Indian esports, highlighting the impressive growth of the country’s esports ecosystem and the emerging talent across disciplines. We are extremely proud of our 23-member contingent, which brings together some of the country’s finest esports athletes across team and individual disciplines. The unveiling of the Team India jersey makes this moment even more special as our athletes prepare to compete on the international stage. We are thankful to the Government of Odisha for its support and encouragement.”
The championship also demonstrated the increasing competitiveness of India’s esports landscape, with IQOO Revenant XSpark and S8UL Esports competing for national honors. While S8UL secured the League of Legends title, IQOO Revenant XSpark triumphed in both Honor of Kings and Pokemon Unite, overcoming strong competition from teams including S8UL and QML during the qualification process, ensuring a robust representation for India.
Sai Krishna Nalluri (RNTX_Vulcan), Captain of IQOO Revenant XSpark, remarked, “Earning the opportunity to represent India is a special feeling for all of us. We know the real challenge lies ahead in the qualifiers, and we’re preparing hard to compete against the best teams in the region. Our goal is to secure our place at the Asian Games, perform at the highest level, and make our country proud.”
Upcoming Qualifiers and Individual Champions
With Indian athletes already guaranteed representation in eight esports titles, 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 be in action from June 12-14, followed by the League of Legends team from June 13-20, with both squads aiming to secure their spots for Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The remaining spots on Team India were filled by some of the nation’s most accomplished esports athletes in individual disciplines. Danial Shakeel Patel, a gold medallist at the WAVES Esports Championship, emerged victorious in eFootball Mobile, while Chinmay Sahoo captured the eFootball Console title. Street Fighter 6 champion Prateek Singh Bhaunt showcased his versatility by competing in multiple disciplines before qualifying in SF6, while Gobind Singh Bedi (The King of Fighters XV) and Gurashish Singh (Tekken 8) completed the roster of national champions set to represent India.
Gurashish Singh, Tekken 8 National Champion, expressed, “Representing India is a dream come true. I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me on this journey. My focus now is on preparing well, improving every day, and giving my best to make the country proud on one of Asia’s biggest stages.”
Prateek Singh Bhaunt (b_HAUNT), Street Fighter 6 National Champion, stated, “I’ve competed in NESC multiple times, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see all the hard work finally pay off. Representing India is a proud moment for me, and I’m excited for the challenge ahead. My focus now is on preparing well, performing at my best, and making the country proud on the international stage.”
With India’s best finish in Asian Games esports being a fifth-place result in League of Legends at Hangzhou 2022, Team India aims to elevate its performance further on the path to Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Building on this momentum, ESFI remains dedicated to empowering Indian athletes to compete and 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.
