India Names 15-Member Esports Contingent for 2026 Asian Games

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has officially approved a 15-member Indian esports contingent to compete at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The athletes will represent India across four distinct titles: League of Legends, Pokémon UNITE, Puyo Puyo Champions, and eFootball. The selection follows a national competitive pathway, including the National Esports Championships and regional qualifiers held in Kuala Lumpur.

The Indian squad features a diverse group of players from across the country, including representatives from Delhi, Odisha, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana. The League of Legends team, captained by Akshaj Shenoy, includes Rahul Bisht, Ahmed Shahid Israr, Mihir Ranjan, Sanindhya Malik, and Aakash Shandilya. The Pokémon UNITE roster consists of Sai Krishna Nalluri, Adnan Mohammed Badshah, Reuben Godfrey Fernandes, Rudra Narayan Nayak, Dipjyoti Laxman Nath, and Deepkumar Vipulbhai Patel. Paritosh will compete in Puyo Puyo Champions, while Chinmay Sahoo and Danial Shakeel Patel represent India in eFootball.

Esports events at the 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to take place from September 23 to October 2, featuring 11 medal events across titles such as League of Legends, Pokémon UNITE, eFootball, Puyo Puyo Champions, and Gran Turismo 7.

For the Indian esports community, inclusion in the Asian Games represents a significant step toward integration into the national sporting ecosystem alongside traditional disciplines like cricket and badminton. Akshaj Shenoy, captain of the League of Legends team, emphasized that the demands of professional esports mirror those of traditional sports, requiring discipline, strategy, and high-level preparation. He noted that while the concept of an esports athlete remains relatively new to the public, the commitment required to compete at the elite level is substantial.

Shenoy also addressed the distinction between casual gaming and professional training, urging young players to balance their gaming ambitions with education. The Esports Federation of India has expressed hope that this participation will foster a better understanding of esports as a viable career path, encompassing roles beyond just players, such as coaches, analysts, and broadcasters. The federation continues to advocate for the inclusion of additional titles in India's broader sporting framework as the sector matures.