ESFI announces Indian contingents for BRICS Esports Championship, Global Esports Games
New Delhi, August 8
The Esports Federation of India on Saturday announced the final Indian contingents for the BRICS Esports Championship 2026 in Moscow, Russia, and the Global Esports Games in Los Angeles, USA, following the conclusion of the National Esports Championships 2026.
The National Esports Championships, which concluded on August 5, served as India's official selection tournament, bringing together the country's top esports athletes to earn the right to represent the nation at two of the world's premier multi-title esports events.
For the BRICS Esports Championship 2026, scheduled to be held from September 9 to September 15 at the VK Play Arena in Moscow, organised by the Russian Esports Federation, India will field a two-member TEKKEN 8 contingent. National champion Arsalan Wani secured his berth after emerging victorious at the NESC BRICS qualifier and will join Gurashish Singh, who was the winner of NESC 2026 (Asian Games), as part of Team India.
Shubham finished as the first runner-up, while Ashish claimed the second runner-up position in the qualifier.
Meanwhile, India has finalised its roster for the Global Esports Games 2026 in Los Angeles, organised by the Global Esports Federation (GEF). Team India will compete across multiple esports titles spanning PC, console, and mobile platforms, further strengthening the country's presence on the global esports stage.
"The BRICS Esports Championship and the Global Esports Games are invaluable opportunities for our athletes as we build towards the Asian Games. Competing against some of the world's best players reflects the growing depth of India's esports talent while giving our athletes the exposure needed to sharpen their skills, perform under pressure and raise their competitive standards. These experiences will play a vital role in preparing Team India for future international competitions, including the upcoming Asian Games," said Lokesh Suji, Hon. Gen Secretary, Esports Federation of India and Vice President, Asian Esports Federation (AESF).
At the Global Esports Games, India will compete in Counter-Strike 2, where Diamond Dogs secured the national berth after defeating Friedup Gaming in the Grand Final. The squad comprises Ritesh Sarda (Captain), Hrishikesh Shenoy, Gourav Panwar, Garvit Nehra and Yash Kumar Singh.
In Clash Royale (Open), Devershi Kumar Kulhara emerged champion, followed by Heer Chawda and Mohamed Rizal S, while Shagun Srivastava won the Women's category ahead of Nikita S.
India's NBA 2K contingent will feature Shubham Sharma (Captain), Ashutosh Kumar and Sumer Singh Sandhu, while the Rocket League team comprises Abhai Ponna (Captain), Jayanth Engineer and Aditeya Amol Srivastav.
In iRacing featuring Ferrari, Yashwanth Babu topped the standings, followed by Aditya Iyer and Ankit Raj.
For eFootball, Chinmay Sahoo has been awarded the Open category slot, being the Winner of the NESC 2026 (Asian Games).
Reiterating its commitment to regulatory compliance, ESFI confirmed that India will not field a contingent in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) in adherence to directives issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally esports is getting proper recognition in India! The fact that we're sending contingents to both Moscow and LA shows how far we've come. Also glad to see women's categories in Clash Royale. More power to Shagun and Nikita! 🙌
Impressive organization by ESFI. The National Championships as a qualifier is a smart approach to ensure we send our best players. Looking forward to seeing how Diamond Dogs perform in CS2 internationally. All the best, Team India!
So proud of our esports athletes! But I do wish MLBB wasn't banned—it's one of the most popular mobile games here. Still, rules are rules and I trust the government's decision. Let's focus on the games we ARE playing and win big! 🏆
The future of Indian esports is bright. From TEKKEN to eFootball, we're covering multiple genres. The exposure from BRICS and Global Esports Games will be invaluable for our players. Can't wait to see India on the podium at the Asian Games!
While I'm excited for the teams, I do hope ESFI provides proper training facilities and support for these athletes. Competing internationally is no joke, especially in games like CS2 where teams practice year-round. We need to invest in infrastructure if we want sustainable success. Just saying. 🤔
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