After an impressive run through the regional qualifiers, S8UL Esports' League of Legends roster has officially qualified to represent India at the Asian Games 2026, set to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. Esports will feature 11 titles at the event, continuing its rise within the continental sporting landscape after debuting as a demonstration event at the 2018 Asian Games and becoming a full medal sport at the Hangzhou Asian Games.Competing under the national team's banner, the roster comprising Akshaj Shenoy (Kat Bot), Aakash Shandilya (Infi), Sanindhya Malik (Deadcorporal), Mihir Ranjan (Lotus), Ahmed Shahid (Nero), and Rahul Bisht (Bob) entered the regional qualifiers on the back of a dominant victory at the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2026, the official national qualification tournament for the Asian Games 2026.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-a-boot-dilemma-helped-germany-player-andreas-brehme-create-history-in-1990-final-against-argentina-1781597991803">FIFA World Cup | A boot dilemma helped Germany player make history in 1990 final</a>The regional qualifiers featured 14 teams competing across a two-stage format. Teams first battled through a round-robin Group Stage before advancing to the Split Stage, where the top-performing sides secured qualification for the Asian Games Main Event.Drawn into Group B, the team led by in-game leader (IGL) Kat Bot, delivered an unbeaten performance, defeating Jordan, Sri Lanka, and Kazakhstan to finish atop the standings and progress to the Split Stage. Despite falling short against Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia in the next phase, the team did enough to punch its ticket to Aichi Nagoya.Having booked its berth, India will now compete against some of Asia's strongest League of Legends nations, including Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Vietnam, as it looks to make its mark on one of esports' biggest stages.Notably, Kat Bot, Infi, Deadcorporal, and Lotus were also part of India's League of Legends contingent at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, where the team secured a fifth-place finish. Their return to the continental stage presents an opportunity to build on that experience and test themselves against the region's elite once again.Speaking on the achievement, Akshaj Shenoy aka Kat Bot, captain of India's League of Legends team, said, “Qualifying for the Asian Games is a proud moment for all of us. We knew the regional qualifiers would be extremely competitive, and every match demanded complete focus. For many of us, this will be our second Asian Games, which makes this qualification even more special because we understand the level of competition that awaits us. We are grateful to S8UL for believing in this roster and providing us with the support, stability, and opportunities needed to keep improving as a team. Representing India is always an honour, and we'll do everything we can to make the country proud in Aichi-Nagoya.”The milestone also reflects S8UL's continued investment in nurturing Indian esports talent. Signed by the organization last year, the roster has benefited from professional infrastructure, sustained competitive support, and opportunities to test itself against some of the strongest teams in the region. Since joining S8UL, the players have represented the organization across major domestic and international competitions, cementing their status as one of India's premier League of Legends lineups.“Representing India at the Asian Games is among the highest honours an athlete can achieve, and seeing our League of Legends roster earn that opportunity is incredibly special. This team has demonstrated resilience, discipline, and a willingness to continually improve, qualities that are essential for success at the international level. At S8UL, our goal has always been to create pathways for Indian athletes to compete on the biggest stages in the world. We have no doubt they will give their all when they step onto the stage in Aichi-Nagoya and compete for the nation with pride,” said Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL.The qualification also adds to a growing list of Team India representatives from S8UL. Earlier, the organization’s Gurashish Singh (Soul) and Prateek Bhaunt (B Haunt) secured qualification for the Asian Games in Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6, respectively, after winning their events at the NESC 2026.Apart from the Asian Games, S8UL is also flying the Indian flag on the global stage through its participation at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026. Selected as a Club Partner by the Esports Foundation for the second consecutive year, S8UL has already secured qualification in Apex Legends, Chess, Fortnite, and Honor of Kings, while continuing to compete across qualification pathways in several other titles.With athletes now representing India across multiple disciplines, S8UL continues to strengthen the country's presence on the international esports stage through long-term investment in player development, professional support systems, and global competitive opportunities.

The regional qualifiers featured 14 teams competing across a two-stage format. Teams first battled through a round-robin Group Stage before advancing to the Split Stage, where the top-performing sides secured qualification for the Asian Games Main Event.

After an impressive run through the regional qualifiers, S8UL Esports' League of Legends roster has officially qualified to represent India at the Asian Games 2026, set to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. Esports will feature 11 titles at the event, continuing its rise within the continental sporting landscape after debuting as a demonstration event at the 2018 Asian Games and becoming a full medal sport at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Competing under the national team's banner, the roster comprising Akshaj Shenoy (Kat Bot), Aakash Shandilya (Infi), Sanindhya Malik (Deadcorporal), Mihir Ranjan (Lotus), Ahmed Shahid (Nero), and Rahul Bisht (Bob) entered the regional qualifiers on the back of a dominant victory at the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2026, the official national qualification tournament for the Asian Games 2026. Also Read - FIFA World Cup | A boot dilemma helped Germany player make history in 1990 final The regional qualifiers featured 14 teams competing across a two-stage format. Teams first battled through a round-robin Group Stage before advancing to the Split Stage, where the top-performing sides secured qualification for the Asian Games Main Event. Drawn into Group B, the team led by in-game leader (IGL) Kat Bot, delivered an unbeaten performance, defeating Jordan, Sri Lanka, and Kazakhstan to finish atop the standings and progress to the Split Stage. Despite falling short against Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia in the next phase, the team did enough to punch its ticket to Aichi Nagoya. Having booked its berth, India will now compete against some of Asia's strongest League of Legends nations, including Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Vietnam, as it looks to make its mark on one of esports' biggest stages. Notably, Kat Bot, Infi, Deadcorporal, and Lotus were also part of India's League of Legends contingent at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, where the team secured a fifth-place finish. Their return to the continental stage presents an opportunity to build on that experience and test themselves against the region's elite once again. Speaking on the achievement, Akshaj Shenoy aka Kat Bot, captain of India's League of Legends team, said, “Qualifying for the Asian Games is a proud moment for all of us. We knew the regional qualifiers would be extremely competitive, and every match demanded complete focus. For many of us, this will be our second Asian Games, which makes this qualification even more special because we understand the level of competition that awaits us. We are grateful to S8UL for believing in this roster and providing us with the support, stability, and opportunities needed to keep improving as a team. Representing India is always an honour, and we'll do everything we can to make the country proud in Aichi-Nagoya.” The milestone also reflects S8UL's continued investment in nurturing Indian esports talent. Signed by the organization last year, the roster has benefited from professional infrastructure, sustained competitive support, and opportunities to test itself against some of the strongest teams in the region. Since joining S8UL, the players have represented the organization across major domestic and international competitions, cementing their status as one of India's premier League of Legends lineups. “Representing India at the Asian Games is among the highest honours an athlete can achieve, and seeing our League of Legends roster earn that opportunity is incredibly special. This team has demonstrated resilience, discipline, and a willingness to continually improve, qualities that are essential for success at the international level. At S8UL, our goal has always been to create pathways for Indian athletes to compete on the biggest stages in the world. We have no doubt they will give their all when they step onto the stage in Aichi-Nagoya and compete for the nation with pride,” said Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL. The qualification also adds to a growing list of Team India representatives from S8UL. Earlier, the organization’s Gurashish Singh (Soul) and Prateek Bhaunt (B Haunt) secured qualification for the Asian Games in Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6, respectively, after winning their events at the NESC 2026. Apart from the Asian Games, S8UL is also flying the Indian flag on the global stage through its participation at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026. Selected as a Club Partner by the Esports Foundation for the second consecutive year, S8UL has already secured qualification in Apex Legends, Chess, Fortnite, and Honor of Kings, while continuing to compete across qualification pathways in several other titles. With athletes now representing India across multiple disciplines, S8UL continues to strengthen the country's presence on the international esports stage through long-term investment in player development, professional support systems, and global competitive opportunities.

The regional qualifiers featured 14 teams competing across a two-stage format. Teams first battled through a round-robin Group Stage before advancing to the Split Stage, where the top-performing sides secured qualification for the Asian Games Main Event.

Asian Games 2026 | S8UL Esports' League of Legends qualifies to represent India

The Esports Foundation (EF) today announced that the 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup (EWC), the world’s largest esports and gaming event, will be hosted in Paris, France, from July 6 through August 23.The Esports Foundation is guided by a long-term vision of growing its international tournaments and competitions through collaboration with audiences, partners and host markets around the world over time. Following an extended evaluation process, and in light of the current regional situation, the Esports Foundation decided to accelerate that international rotation ambition for the 2026 edition, offering clarity and stability for players, Clubs, publishers, partners, and fans worldwide, while preserving the tournament’s scale, structure and competitive integrity.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manuel-neuer-earns-surprise-call-up-to-germany-26-man-fifa-world-cup-squad-1779368174561">Manuel Neuer earns surprise call up to Germany’s 26-man FIFA World Cup squad</a>“Riyadh helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation. “Riyadh is the home of EWC and one of the world’s leading hubs for esports, powered by an incredible community of fans and long-term ambition for the future of the sport. This year, we’re excited to bring EWC to Paris for its first edition outside Saudi Arabia. Paris has hosted some of the world’s biggest sporting events and is one of the great global capitals of sport, culture and entertainment. Together with the passion of French fans and the strong support we’ve received locally, we’re excited to bring the global esports community there for the next chapter of EWC. Paris now becomes the first international chapter in EWC history.”The announcement builds on the continued growth of the Esports World Cup and its global audience following successive editions hosted in Riyadh.In 2025, EWC reached more than 750 million viewers worldwide and generated over 350 million hours watched, with peak concurrent viewership nearing 8 million. The event was delivered across 28 platforms through 97 broadcast partners and over 800 channels in 35 languages, reaching fans in 140 countries.This edition of the EWC will once again welcome more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, who will compete in 24 games across 25 tournaments for a share of the record-breaking $75 million+ prize pool.Details on the new venue for EWC 2026 in Paris will be announced in the coming weeks. Clubs, teams, players and fans with tickets to the event will be contacted directly. More information and Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the EWC 2026 Website.

In 2025, EWC reached more than 750 million viewers worldwide and generated over 350 million hours watched, with peak concurrent viewership nearing 8 million. 

The Esports Foundation (EF) today announced that the 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup (EWC), the world’s largest esports and gaming event, will be hosted in Paris, France, from July 6 through August 23. The Esports Foundation is guided by a long-term vision of growing its international tournaments and competitions through collaboration with audiences, partners and host markets around the world over time. Following an extended evaluation process, and in light of the current regional situation, the Esports Foundation decided to accelerate that international rotation ambition for the 2026 edition, offering clarity and stability for players, Clubs, publishers, partners, and fans worldwide, while preserving the tournament’s scale, structure and competitive integrity. Also Read - Manuel Neuer earns surprise call up to Germany’s 26-man FIFA World Cup squad “Riyadh helped turn the Esports World Cup into a global phenomenon,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation. “Riyadh is the home of EWC and one of the world’s leading hubs for esports, powered by an incredible community of fans and long-term ambition for the future of the sport. This year, we’re excited to bring EWC to Paris for its first edition outside Saudi Arabia. Paris has hosted some of the world’s biggest sporting events and is one of the great global capitals of sport, culture and entertainment. Together with the passion of French fans and the strong support we’ve received locally, we’re excited to bring the global esports community there for the next chapter of EWC. Paris now becomes the first international chapter in EWC history.” The announcement builds on the continued growth of the Esports World Cup and its global audience following successive editions hosted in Riyadh. In 2025, EWC reached more than 750 million viewers worldwide and generated over 350 million hours watched, with peak concurrent viewership nearing 8 million. The event was delivered across 28 platforms through 97 broadcast partners and over 800 channels in 35 languages, reaching fans in 140 countries. This edition of the EWC will once again welcome more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, who will compete in 24 games across 25 tournaments for a share of the record-breaking $75 million+ prize pool. Details on the new venue for EWC 2026 in Paris will be announced in the coming weeks. Clubs, teams, players and fans with tickets to the event will be contacted directly. More information and Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the EWC 2026 Website.

In 2025, EWC reached more than 750 million viewers worldwide and generated over 350 million hours watched, with peak concurrent viewership nearing 8 million.&nbsp;

Esports World Cup set to be held in Paris from July 6

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Asian Games 2026 | S8UL Esports' League of Legends qualifies to represent India

Esports World Cup set to be held in Paris from July 6