New Delhi, April 9, 2025: 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.” 

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.

The post ESFI’s Lokesh Suji Re-Elected as Asian Electronic Sports Federation VP, South Asia, Strengthening India’s Esports Leadership appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

~ 8Bit Creatives is home to some of India’s most prominent gaming content creators including, MortaL, Payal, Snax, Kaashvi, Mamba and more

National, Dec 21, 2024: The Esports Federation of India (ESFI) has joined forces with 8Bit Creatives, India’s leading esports consulting and talent management agency for the WAVES Esports Championship 2025 (WESC25). Through this collaboration, both organizations will work together for the content creation, amplification and reach of the WESC25 and take it to India’s massive youth population.

Organised by ESFI, WESC 2025 is a key initiative supported by India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting aimed at contributing to the growth of the nation’s burgeoning esports industry & creator economy. This event will be part of one of the Create in India Challenges by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the esteemed World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES).

With a roster that includes some of India’s most influential gaming content creators, 8Bit Creatives will leverage the creativity and popularity of its talent to amplify the event’s visibility. Their creators, including Naman Mathur (Mortal), Payal Dhare (PayalGaming), Raj Varma (Snax), Kaashvi Hiranandani (KaashPlays), and many others, will host and participate in various engaging activities while interacting with fans to enhance the overall reach and excitement surrounding WESC 2025.

“WESC 2025 represents a tremendous leap forward for the Indian esports community. We are delighted to have 8Bit Creatives and their popular gaming creators on board, whose expertise will undoubtedly help amplify the event’s reach and impact. With qualifiers in full swing, we’re eagerly anticipating fierce competition as India’s top athletes strive for a place on the grand stage in February,” noted Mr. Lokesh Suji, Director of ESFI & Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF).

Sharing his thoughts, Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, CEO and Co-founder of 8Bit Creatives said, “WAVES 2025 marks a groundbreaking chapter in India’s esports journey, and we’re thrilled to be the talent partners driving this initiative. As one of India’s leading talent hubs in gaming and esports, 8bit Creatives brings unparalleled energy and scale to WAVES 2025. This is more than a partnership; it’s a platform to showcase the potential of esports as a viable and celebrated career path while underscoring the government’s support for our rapidly growing gaming and creator economy. With our creators and innovative content strategies, we’re here to make history together!.”

WESC 2025 will feature competitive tournaments in popular titles such as eFootball and World Cricket Championship (WCC), played across four phases and Grand Finals. Notably, the winner of the eFootball tournament (Phase 1), MrTomBoy, won the bronze medal at the Asian Esports Games, Bangkok, showcasing WESC’s talent potential. Committed to inclusivity, the event is gender-inclusive, with qualifiers for eFootball (Phase 2) and WCC3 (Phase 1) already underway. Upcoming registrations include eFootball Phase 3 (Dec 18 – Jan 1) and WCC3 Phase 2 (Dec 15 – Dec 26).

8Bit Creatives’ esports and content division, S8UL, made history by winning the ‘Content Group of the Year’ award for the third consecutive time at the Esports Awards 2024, remaining the only Indian organization to achieve any Esports Award. Earlier this year, founders Animesh Agarwal, Naman Mathur, and creator Payal Dhare also joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a roundtable discussion on India’s gaming industry, showcasing 8Bit’s pivotal role in advancing esports and fostering a sustainable ecosystem for gaming content creators.

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New Delhi, November 4, 2024: The Electronic Sports Federation of India (ESFI) has officially opened registrations for eFootball (Mobile) Phase-1 for the Waves Esports Championship 2025 (WESC25). Indian citizens are invited to register by November 11, with the main tournament set to begin on November 14. All matches will be held online, with live streaming for the quarterfinals and beyond on the ESFI YouTube channel.

WESC25 forms part of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) summit. Its winner will get the opportunity to represent India in eFootball (Open) at the prestigious Asian Esports Games (AEG) in Bangkok, Thailand, organised by the Thailand Esports Federation and sanctioned by the Asian Esports Federation (AESF) and Thailand’s Ministry of Sports. The AEG will showcase various esports disciplines, including Arena of Valor (Open) and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (Female), and will be held from November 25 to 29, 2024, with the eFootball competition slated for November 27 and 28.

Commenting on the occasion, ESFI President Vinod Tiwari said: “As we kick off the Waves Esports Championship 2025, we’re not only celebrating the spirit of competitive gaming but also providing an incredible platform to showcase India’s top talent on a continental stage. WAVES represents the growing synergy between esports, innovation, and creative technology in India. The opportunity for our eFootball champion to represent India at the Asian Esports Games in Bangkok is a testament to the immense potential of our players. We’re looking forward to seeing our nation’s talent shine on such a prominent stage and make India proud in the global esports landscape.

The WAVES summit, taking place from February 5 to 9, 2025, features 25 unique challenges, including game development contests and AI installations, highlighting India’s creative talent. Part of the Government of India’s ‘Create in India Challenge – Season 1,’ WAVES seeks to position India as a global leader in media, entertainment, and gaming, with the WESC25 providing gamers a platform to showcase their skills and compete nationally and internationally.

As the governing body for esports in India, ESFI has been at the forefront of promoting competitive gaming, playing a pivotal role in events like the Asian Games 2018, 2022 and the Commonwealth Esports Championship 2022, where India secured bronze medals and was placed fifth for League of Legends. Having affiliations with International Esports Federation, Asian Esports Federation and Global Esports Federation, ESFI is committed to elevating India’s presence in the global esports landscape.

The post ESFI Opens eFootball (Mobile) Phase 1 Registrations for WESC 2025; Winner to Represent India at Asian Esports Games, Bangkok appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

The official logo for the upcoming WAVES Esports Championship 2025 backed by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting was launched in New Delhi by ESFI

The post ESFI to Launch WESC 2025 Qualifiers in September, Will Feature Top Gamers and Popular Esports Games appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.