Nodwin Gaming Launches Nodwin Sports to Expand Beyond Esports

IPO-bound esports firm NODWIN Gaming has launched a mainstream sports division named NODWIN Sports, marking an expansion into physical sporting properties, mass-participation events, and commercial partnerships. The new vertical will develop original sports and fitness properties, advise governing bodies, and offer production support for sporting events, using India as the base for broader expansion across markets in the Global South.

The launch accompanies leadership changes within the organization, with former Adidas India sports marketing lead Gurbaksh Singh Virdi joining NODWIN Gaming as Vice President to spearhead the division. Virdi brings marketing experience from stints at Red Bull, PUMA, Cornerstone, and Adidas India, where he managed brand initiatives across cricket, running, training, football, and motorsport, alongside partnerships with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Indian Olympic Association.

Virdi moves to NODWIN Gaming after serving two years as senior manager of sports marketing at Adidas India, following a tenure at Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment where he worked on running initiatives for Virat Kohli's One8 brand. His career portfolio also includes marketing roles with PUMA, U Sports, and Red Bull. At NODWIN Sports, he will apply his background in athlete management and intellectual property development to bridge mainstream sports with the company's existing entertainment framework.

The venture intends to draw upon NODWIN Gaming's operational experience in managing large-scale youth properties. Company executives noted that past productions such as the BGMI Masters Series, Comic Con India, the NH7 Weekender, and VCSA provide a framework for developing youth-targeted sports intellectual properties.

The creation of NODWIN Sports supports a broader corporate strategy to build a comprehensive youth media and entertainment business spanning live events, content, and intellectual property. Founded in 2014 by Akshat Rathee and Gautam Virk, the parent company operates across more than 20 countries, backed by investors including Nazara Technologies, KRAFTON, Sony Group Corporation, JetSynthesys, and Good Game Investments.

The diversification strategy coincides with preparations for an initial public offering. In March, co-founder and Managing Director Rathee stated that the company aimed to raise approximately USD 100 million in a pre-IPO funding round. Leadership has maintained a measured approach toward the timeline, indicating that draft papers will be filed only after achieving internal financial, governance, and investor readiness.