In a significant boost for Indian esports, Lokesh Suji has been re-elected unopposed as Vice President for South Asia in the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) during its recent online Electoral General Assembly in Hong Kong for a four-year term. Holding this position since AESF’s inception, Suji’s re-election highlights India’s growing influence in international esports, reinforcing the Esports Federation of India’s (ESFI) role in shaping the region’s competitive gaming landscape.

The AESF Electoral General Assembly, chaired by outgoing President Kenneth Fok, convened representatives from 38 member nations and OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Tiwari. Thailand’s Santi Lothong secured the AESF Presidency with a simple majority, alongside new Vice Presidents for different Asian zones.

“I am deeply grateful for the continued trust placed in me and extend my sincere thanks to Kenneth (Fok) for his leadership and guidance over the years. I also look forward to working closely with Santi (Lothong) for this next phase. This re-election is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the remarkable growth of esports in India and South Asia. Esports in Asia is entering a defining era, and I am committed to ensuring that our players, federations, and stakeholders receive the recognition, opportunities, and platforms they deserve,” said Lokesh Suji, Vice President, South Asia, of AESF and Director of ESFI.

As Asia’s esports governing body, recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), AESF has been instrumental in getting esports included in Asian Games and hosting major tournaments like the Asian Esports Games 2018 and the Asian Games 2022, featuring top titles such as Dota 2, Street Fighter 6, and FIFA Online. AESF has also been selected as the Technical Delegate for Esports at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

Commenting on Suji’s re-election, Santi Lothong, the incoming AESF President, said: “Having worked alongside Lokesh for years, I have witnessed his unwavering dedication to developing esports in South Asia and beyond. His leadership, vision, and relentless efforts have helped shape the region’s competitive landscape. I look forward to continuing our collaboration and strengthening esports across Asia under this new leadership phase.”

Kenneth Fok, the outgoing AESF President, added: “Lokesh has been a steadfast pillar in AESF’s journey, always pushing to elevate esports across Asia. His passion and commitment have left a lasting impact, shaping key initiatives and strengthening our community. It’s been a pleasure working alongside him, and I am confident he will continue driving esports forward.”

Under Suji’s leadership, India has made significant strides in esports, with historic medal finishes in the Commonwealth Esports Championship 2022, BRICS Esports Championship and Asian Esports Games and strong performances in the Asian Games 2018 and 2022, where Indian athletes proved their mettle against the world’s best. ESFI is further cementing India’s esports dominance with the WAVES Esports Championship (WESC) —a pioneering initiative that fosters homegrown talent and provides Indian players with an international platform to compete at the highest level. WAVES Esports Championship is one of the ‘Create in India Challenge’ as part of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s marque event ‘World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit’ (WAVES) to be held on 1-4 May 2025, Mumbai.

Recognized by and Member of the International Esports Federation, Asian Esports Federation, and Global Esports Federation, ESFI remains dedicated to strengthening India’s position on the global esports stage.

S8UL, a global name in esports and gaming content, has officially announced its participation in five titles at the highly anticipated Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 7 to August 24. The first wave of titles includes Chess, EAFC 25, Tekken 8, Call of Duty (COD): Warzone, and Apex Legends, with more titles and the official rosters to be revealed in the coming weeks.

This move marks a significant milestone for Indian esports. By entering globally competitive titles such as EAFC, Warzone, Apex, Tekken, and Chess, S8UL becomes one of the first Indian organizations to compete at this scale and across such a diverse mix of esports titles. It reflects a clear step toward going global, showing how Indian esports is moving from regional success to a much bigger stage. With this participation, S8UL reinforces the message that Indian esports orgs are ready to compete at the highest level, alongside some of the biggest names in the international esports scene.

To kick off the campaign, S8UL launched a quirky and fast-paced announcement video featuring popular content creator BeYouNick and its star-studded roster of creators. The storyline follows a raid at the S8UL gaming house by an ‘EWC Squad’, leading to a string of humorous reveals and cryptic clues — ultimately leaving fans with just enough answers to be excited, and just enough mystery to keep them hooked. The video has already garnered more than 2.8 million views on Instagram and over 738K views on YouTube, sparking massive fan engagement and applause across platforms.

“The announcement video was our way of involving the community right from the start — showcasing that S8UL’s strength lies not just in gameplay but in storytelling,” said Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO, S8UL.“This is a defining moment for Indian esports. Our entry into titles like EAFC, Warzone, Apex, Tekken and Chess is not just participation — it’s a statement. S8UL is going global. We’re stepping into arenas that many never imagined an Indian org could enter, and we’re doing it with heart, skill and intent. We’re not just here to play — we’re here to make a mark. And this is just the first stop in that journey.”

But S8UL’s plans for EWC 2025 go far beyond team participation. The organization is gearing up for one of its biggest campaigns yet, with a pan-India journey across 20+ cities in the lead-up to the World Cup. Fans can expect never-before-seen content, IRL experiences, roster reveals, exclusive behind-the-scenes access, and opportunities to travel and celebrate with the team. This campaign will bring together India’s vibrant gaming community — from brand partners and creators to hardcore fans and casual gamers — and unify them under one flag.

Featuring the largest prize pool in esports history and 24 of the world’s biggest esports titles, the Esports World Cup will also crown a Club Champion — the top-performing esports organization across all games. With over 50,000 square meters of space dedicated to fan activations, global pop culture integrations, and entertainment, the event promises to be the largest gaming festival on the planet.

As the only Indian content and esports org to have won at the prestigious Esports Awards, and with creators who continue to redefine the boundaries between competitive play and pop culture, S8UL is leading India’s global gaming revolution — and the Esports World Cup 2025 is just the next stop.

Galaxy Esports Ltd has become a member of the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC). This new membership reflects Galaxy Esports’ commitment to safeguarding competitive integrity and promoting ethical standards in the esports industry.

By joining ESIC, Galaxy Esports reaffirms its dedication to fair play and professionalism by adopting the ESIC Integrity Program across its activities. Galaxy Esports joins an extensive list of the world’s largest esports stakeholders who rely on ESIC’s Integrity Programme for their competitive integrity and governance needs.

Stephen Hanna, Chief Executive Officer of ESIC, said: “We are pleased to welcome Galaxy Esports to the ESIC membership network. Galaxy’s proactive adoption of ESIC’s standards represent a positive step for the competitive integrity of their tournament offerings. We look forward to supporting their journey and working together to uphold the values of fairness and transparency in esports.”

Yurii Tereshchenko, CEO of Galaxy Esports, said: “Having been involved in esports for many years, I have witnessed its evolution and the increasing need for structured integrity frameworks. At a pivotal point in the industry’s growth, ESIC has emerged as a vital organization in establishing and upholding standards of fair play. We are proud to become a member of ESIC and view this as a significant milestone in Galaxy Esports’ development and our ongoing commitment to competitive integrity.”