The League of Legends team, comprising captain Akshaj Shenoy (Kat Bot), Aakash Shandilya (Infi), Sanindhya Malik (Deadcorporal), Mihir Ranjan (Lotus), Ahmed Shahid (Nero) and Rahul Bisht (Bob), qualified for the Asian Games. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

S8UL Esports’ League of Legends roster has qualified to represent India at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, after an impressive campaign in the regional qualifiers.

The team, comprising captain Akshaj Shenoy (Kat Bot), Aakash Shandilya (Infi), Sanindhya Malik (Deadcorporal), Mihir Ranjan (Lotus), Ahmed Shahid (Nero) and Rahul Bisht (Bob), earned its place after winning the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2026, India’s official qualification tournament.

The regional qualifiers featured 14 teams across a two-stage format. India topped Group B with an unbeaten run, defeating Jordan, Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan to advance to the Split Stage. Although it lost to Vietnam, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia in the next phase, the team secured enough points to qualify for the Asian Games, where it will face leading esports nations, including Japan, Chinese Taipei and Vietnam.

Kat Bot, Infi, Deadcorporal and Lotus were also part of India’s squad at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, where the team finished fifth.

“Qualifying for the Asian Games is a proud moment for all of us,” captain Akshaj said. “Many of us will be competing at our second Asian Games, so we understand the level of competition. Representing India is always an honour, and we’ll do everything we can to make the country proud.”

The qualification adds to S8UL’s growing Indian contingent after Gurashish Singh (Soul) qualified in Tekken 8 and Prateek Bhaunt (B Haunt) in Street Fighter 6.

Published on Jun 17, 2026