India’s esports scene is entering another major chapter as a 15-member Indian contingent competes at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Indian team is participating across four esports titles — League of Legends, Pokémon UNITE, eFootball and Puyo Puyo Champions. The esports competition runs from September 23 to October 2, while the wider Asian Games take place from September 19 to October 4.
For Indian gamers, esports fans and game developers, the 2026 Asian Games are an important moment. Competitive gaming is being presented on a major international sporting stage, giving Indian players an opportunity to compete against leading esports athletes from across Asia while representing the country.
India’s 15-Member Esports Contingent
India is represented by 15 players across the four selected esports disciplines. The League of Legends roster includes Ahmed Shahid Israr, Rahul Bisht, Sanindhya Malik, Mihir Ranjan, Aakash Shandilya and captain Akshaj Shenoy.
The six-player Pokémon UNITE squad features Adnan Mohammed Badshah, Reuben Godfrey Fernandes, Sai Krishna Nalluri, Dipjyoti Laxman Nath, Rudra Narayan Nayak and Deepkumar Vipulbhai Patel.
India’s eFootball representatives are Chinmay Sahoo and Danial Shakeel Patel, while Paritosh is competing in Puyo Puyo Champions.
Which Games Is India Playing?
League of Legends
League of Legends is one of the world’s most established competitive PC games. It is a team-based multiplayer online battle arena in which players coordinate characters, objectives and strategies. India’s six-player team is led by captain Akshaj Shenoy.
India also has previous Asian Games experience in the title. At the Hangzhou Asian Games, India’s League of Legends team finished fifth. The 2026 squad therefore returns to the continental stage with experience of competing in a major multi-sport event.
Pokémon UNITE
India is also represented by a six-player Pokémon UNITE team. The game combines familiar Pokémon characters with team-based competitive gameplay. The Indian squad is captained by Adnan Mohammed Badshah and includes players from several parts of the country.
eFootball
India’s eFootball representation consists of Chinmay Sahoo and Danial Shakeel Patel. Competitive football gaming has a broad audience in India, making eFootball another prominent title through which Indian players can compete internationally.
Puyo Puyo Champions
India’s fourth esports entry is Puyo Puyo Champions, represented by Paritosh. The inclusion of a puzzle title alongside team-based games demonstrates the variety of competitive formats included in the Asian Games esports programme.
Esports Returns to the Asian Games Spotlight
Esports has steadily gained visibility within the Asian Games. It appeared as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang and became a medal sport at the Hangzhou Asian Games. At Aichi-Nagoya, esports again forms part of the official competition programme, with multiple medal events covering different gaming genres.
For India, participation across four titles gives the country representation in team-based multiplayer gaming, football gaming and puzzle esports. The event also gives Indian players the opportunity to experience a competitive environment that is different from commercial esports leagues and standalone gaming tournaments.
Why the Asian Games Matter for Indian Gaming
The significance of India’s participation extends beyond individual matches. Young gamers watching the Asian Games can see Indian esports players representing the country at an international sporting event. That visibility can help introduce competitive gaming to a wider audience and highlight the preparation, teamwork, communication and strategic decision-making involved in professional esports.
The Asian Games also create an opportunity for Indian esports organisations, players and officials to interact with a broader Asian competitive ecosystem. International competition can expose teams to different strategies, training systems and tournament environments.
India’s Previous Asian Games Esports Experience
India already has experience with esports at the Asian Games. At Hangzhou, India sent a larger esports contingent, and the Indian League of Legends team finished fifth. That experience gave Indian players and officials an opportunity to understand the demands of competing at a major multi-sport event.
The 2026 contingent is smaller, with 15 players across four titles, but it continues India’s participation in the Asian Games esports programme. The current roster includes players from different regions, reflecting the increasingly nationwide nature of India’s competitive gaming community.
India’s Gaming Industry Is Also Growing
The Asian Games campaign comes as India’s wider gaming ecosystem continues to develop. Alongside esports, Indian studios are working on original game projects, while incubators and industry programmes are providing support for developers at different stages of production.
One example is the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI), which supports Indian game-development teams. Its expanded programme is designed to support studios beyond the earliest prototype stage, including eligible mobile games that have reached beta or soft launch and PC games with playable demos and early traction.
Support for game developers can include mentorship, workshops, development resources and assistance with areas such as go-to-market strategy, marketing, user acquisition and product growth. These areas are important because successfully launching a game requires more than building the software itself.
From Esports Players to Game Developers
India’s gaming ecosystem is made up of several connected communities. Professional players compete in tournaments, creators produce gaming videos and livestreams, developers build new games, publishers bring titles to market, and fans form communities around their favourite games.
Growth in one part of the ecosystem can create opportunities in another. A larger competitive gaming audience can increase interest in esports events, while stronger local development can give players and creators more Indian-made games to follow and promote.
What the Asian Games Could Mean for Future Indian Players
International events can also provide aspiring players with a clearer picture of what competitive gaming can involve. Players looking toward a professional esports career can observe how national teams prepare, communicate and compete against international opponents.
At the same time, esports remains only one part of the broader gaming industry. Opportunities also exist in coaching, broadcasting, event management, game development, community management, content creation and other supporting roles.
India’s Gaming Future
India’s participation in four esports events at Aichi-Nagoya shows how competitive gaming has become part of the country’s international sporting conversation. The 15 Indian players are competing in League of Legends, Pokémon UNITE, eFootball and Puyo Puyo Champions, giving the country representation across several different genres.
Meanwhile, programmes supporting Indian game developers are working to strengthen the development side of the ecosystem. Together, esports, game development, content creation, investment and a large gaming audience are shaping an increasingly diverse Indian gaming industry.
For Indian gamers following the Asian Games, the event provides a chance to watch the country’s esports athletes compete on one of Asia’s biggest sporting stages. For the wider industry, the tournament is another visible milestone in the continuing growth of gaming and esports in India.
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Follow the News Nation Online Gaming News section for updates on esports, PC gaming, console games, mobile gaming, releases, tournaments and the wider gaming industry.
Sources: Olympics.com, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports/ANI reporting, Hindustan Times, NDTV Sports and KRAFTON India.
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