Street Fighter expert Mayank Prajapati and eFootball sensation Hemanth Kommu showcased their exceptional skills in the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2023, organized by the Esports Federation of India (ESFI). Their outstanding performances led them to emerge as winners in this prestigious event. The NESC served as a qualifying tournament for the upcoming Global Esports Games, which are scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December. This achievement highlights the immense talent within the Indian Esports community.
Global Esports Games 2023: Asian Games Street Fighter athlete Mayank Prajapati and eFootball star Hemanth Kommu conquer NESC qualifiers
Mayank, also known as MiKeYROG, is chosen to represent India in the highly anticipated Asian Games 2022, marking the official introduction of Esports as a medal sport. With ease, he emerged victorious in the Street Fighter 6 qualifiers, outperforming 13 other skilled contestants, including Ayan Biswas, India’s second representative in the Asian Games. In the final, the 33-year-old defeated Prateek Singh Bhaunt, also known as b_HAUNT, with a score of 3-1.
Mayank Prajapati, reflecting on his win in the NESC 2023, expressed his excitement and optimism for the future of Street Fighter 6 in India. He credited the growing ecosystem of the game to the continuous support from ESFI and the active participation of the Indian Fighting Gaming community. Mayank acknowledged the enormous achievement of defeating top athletes in the community and attributed it to his dedicated practice and strategic planning with different characters. Looking ahead, Mayank hopes to represent his country in two major international tournaments, the Asian Games 2022 and GEG, aiming to elevate the reputation of the Indian fighting gaming community on a global scale.
RephraseHemanth, a former student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), emerged as the victor in the eFootball 2023 qualifiers, where 18 athletes, including Ibrahim Gulrez, who represented the country at the 15th World Esports Championships, participated. Hemanth showcased his prowess by defeating Emaad Jameel Ahmed (Emaadrox) in both Grand Final 1 and Grand Final 2, achieving a consistent scoreline of 2-1 throughout the qualifiers. This exceptional performance secured Hemanth’s success.
Hemanth Kommu expressed his immense satisfaction in winning the eFootball qualifiers. His dedication to consistent practice and strategic improvement has allowed him to defeat renowned competitors and advance towards the global finals in Riyadh, with the goal of representing India. Hemanth acknowledges the opportunity offered by ESFI and aims to bring pride to his country through his outstanding performances.
Both Mayank Prajapati and Hemanth Kommu have previous experience participating in the Global Esports Games, where they represented India. Last year, they had the opportunity to compete in this renowned tournament. The Global Esports Federation is currently working on disclosing the roadmap for the regional qualifiers in which these athletes will be participating. This information will be shared with the public in the near future.
RephraseMr. Lokesh Suji, the Director of the Esports Federation of India and Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation expressed his congratulations to the athletes, stating that he is pleased to witness the continued success of Hemanth and Mayank in the national qualifiers. He emphasized their commitment and strong desire to consistently excel in their individual disciplines, which serves as a source of motivation for aspiring Esports athletes in the country. The entire ESFI team firmly believes that they will leave a significant impact on the global stage, compete against the world’s top athletes, and bring great honor to the nation.
Artsmith-Concepts & Visions, a leading sports and Esports communication agency in the country will maintain its role as the official communication partner of the Esports Federation of India.
RephraseThe Global Esports Games 2023 (GEG23) is set to happen from December 11 to 16. It will showcase four main games, namely DOTA 2, Street Fighter, eFootball 2023, and PUBG Mobile. To maintain fairness and competitiveness, all participants must be at least 18 years old. India will be competing in the Open category for three out of the four titles: DOTA 2, eFootball 2023, and Street Fighter 6.
RephraseThe DOTA 2 team from the country, led by captain Manav Kunte (mnz), Krish Gupta (Krish-), Khaja Hussain (Pinkman), Ketan Goyal (Evil-ash), Vishal Vernekar (Hbk), and substitute Darshan Bata (A35), was eliminated from the regional qualifiers following 0-2 losses against Malaysia and Mongolia.
