The Esports Federation of India (ESFI) has opened registrations for the National Esports Championships 2026 (NESC 2026), the official national qualification tournament that will determine India’s esports contingent for the 2026 Asian Games.
The upcoming Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026, will offer India the opportunity to compete across 10 video game titles. Esports will feature as a full-fledged medal event for only the second time, following its inclusion at the Hangzhou Asian Games in China in 2023 (2022).
Registrations for NESC 2026 will remain open from February 21 to March 7, 2026. The championship will serve as the official selection platform to identify and finalize athletes who will represent India at the Games.
The 2026 Asian Games includes 13 esports titles in total, of which India will compete in 10. The NESC 2026 qualification will feature titles confirmed under the Asian Games Esports Program, including:
- Street Fighter 6
- Tekken 8
- The King of Fighters XV (clubbed as one team event)
- Pokémon Unite
- League of Legends
- PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version)
- Puyo Puyo
- Naraka: Bladepoint
- eFootball
- Gran Turismo
Through NESC 2026, ESFI will identify and select athletes to represent India across eight medal events, offering a cumulative opportunity of up to 24 medals at the continental competition.
Commenting on the announcement, Vinod Kumar Tiwari, President, Esports Federation of India said, “The National Esports Championships 2026 marks a defining step in India’s journey towards the Asian Games. With esports now firmly established as a medal event, our focus is on identifying and nurturing the very best talent the country has to offer. NESC 2026 provides a fair, competitive, and transparent platform for athletes to earn their place in the national squad. We encourage players from across India to step forward, compete with determination, and seize this opportunity to represent the nation on one of Asia’s biggest sporting stages.”
For PUBG (Asian Games Version), ESFI clarified that since the edition featured at the Asian Games differs from the version currently restricted in India, the selection and evaluation process will be conducted through Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). However, final participation and representation will remain subject to approval by the concerned competent authority.
ESFI stated that additional titles may be introduced if there are official announcements regarding the inclusion of more esports disciplines, with further details to be communicated in due course.
The championship is open to professional esports athletes as well as aspiring competitive gamers from across India, irrespective of gender. Through a structured and transparent qualification pathway, ESFI aims to ensure that the country’s top talent earns the opportunity to compete at the continental level.
The national selection process will span 30 days, during which athletes will compete in a rigorous format to determine the top-performing individuals and teams across each game category.
Following the conclusion of the national championships, selected teams and athletes will advance to the Asian regional qualifiers, scheduled to take place between May and July 2026. These qualifiers will determine final qualification status ahead of the Games in September in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan.
With esports continuing to gain prominence within the multi-sport ecosystem, the NESC 2026 selection process will culminate in the announcement of India’s official esports squad for the Asian Games 2026. The upcoming edition also presents India with the opportunity to secure its first-ever medal in esports at the Asian Games.
Through this initiative, ESFI aims to strengthen India’s representation at one of Asia’s premier multi-sport events and position the country as a serious medal contender on the continental stage, further elevating its standing within the global esports ecosystem.
Athletes interested in participating can register through ESFI’s official channels at linktr.ee/esfindia or join the ESFI Official Discord channel for further details.
