Krafton India’s Rising Star Program continues to spotlight and nurture emerging esports talent from across the country, with Manipur-based BGMI player Zalaikam (Zalaikam Haokip) emerging as one of its most promising success stories. Check out the player’s growth through Krafton India Esports Rising Star program below.
Krafton India Esports Rising Star Program: A Talent Development Initiatives
At just 23 years old, Zalaikam, hailing from Saikul, Manipur, has steadily carved a name for himself in India’s competitive Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) ecosystem. Having started his gaming journey in 2019, Zalaikam’s rise reflects both personal perseverance and the growing impact of structured talent development initiatives like the Rising Star Programme by Krafton India.
Inspired by iconic creators such as Mortal, Athena and Dynamo, Zalaikam transitioned from a casual player to a focused competitor through consistent daily practice and disciplined gameplay. Currently representing Team Hope Esports, he plays the role of a Free Man, alongside teammates Lmin (IGL), Corry (Assaulter) and ClutchGod (Assaulter). The team is set to compete in the upcoming UNIV Premiership Season 1, marking an important milestone in his competitive career.
Reflecting on his journey, Zalaikam credits Krafton India’s Rising Star Programme for playing a crucial role in his growth, both as a player and as a creator. Through the programme, Krafton has supported him with essential streaming resources, amplified his gameplay across official platforms, and provided guidance on audience engagement and content-building strategies.
“Being selected as a Rising Star felt like all the hard work of the past few years finally paid off,” says Zalaikam. “The support and recognition gave me confidence not just as a player, but as someone who can build a future in esports.”
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Beyond professional development, the recognition has also helped shift perceptions closer to home. While initial family support was limited, receiving the Rising Star title marked a turning point, leading to growing encouragement from his parents and community.
With a rapidly growing digital footprint over 10.7K followers on Instagram and 57.5K subscribers on YouTube. Zalaikam is steadily building a loyal fan base. His long-term ambition extends beyond personal success: he hopes to join a top-tier (T1) esports team and inspire youth from his region to view gaming as a legitimate and sustainable career path.
“My goal is to become a well-known esports player and uplift my community in the field of gaming,” he adds. “Talent exists everywhere, programmes like Rising Star help bring it to the forefront.”
Krafton India’s Rising Star Programme continues to play a pivotal role in identifying, mentoring and empowering the next generation of Indian esports athletes, reinforcing the company’s commitment to building a robust, inclusive and future-ready gaming ecosystem in the country.
