Tanav Leads India's Charge at 3rd Asian Youth Games in eFootball

The National Esports Championships (NESC) 2025 eFootball qualifiers concluded successfully this month. India’s rising star, Tanav, delivering an outstanding performance to secure first place and earn the prestigious opportunity to represent India at the 3rd Asian Youth Games. The tournament showcased exceptional talent as Keshav impressed with his gameplay to finish as runner-up, while Suhan claimed the third-place spot with consistent performances across matches.

3rd Asian Youth Games in eFootball

With this decisive victory, both Tanav and Keshav will represent India in eFootball at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, scheduled to be held in Manama, Bahrain, from October 22–31, 2025. The tournament will bring together nearly 2,000 athletes aged 14–18 from 45 Asian nations, competing across 24 sports disciplines in what promises to be a historic event for youth sports in the region.

This edition of the Asian Youth Games holds special significance as esports will feature as official medal events for the first time in history, with titles including eFootball, Street Fighter, and Rocket League.

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The NESC 2025 eFootball qualifier represents a significant milestone in India’s international esports journey, highlighting Tanav’s and Keshav’s excellence while underscoring the rising depth and competitiveness of the nation’s youth esports ecosystem.

Expressing his excitement about the victory, Tanav said, “I’m incredibly honored to have secured first place in the NESC 2025 eFootball qualifiers and earned the chance to represent India at the Asian Youth Games. This achievement is the result of months of dedicated training and preparation. Knowing that esports will be featured as official medal events for the first time makes this opportunity even more special. I’m focused on intensifying my preparation in the coming weeks, studying international gameplay patterns, and fine-tuning my strategies. My goal is simple, to make India proud and bring home a medal from Bahrain. The support from ESFI has been incredible, and I’m ready to give everything I have on the Asian stage.”

Runner-up Keshav reflected on his performance, saying: “Even though I didn’t secure the top spot, I’m proud of the way I performed and the effort I put into these qualifiers. Competing at this level has been an incredible experience, and it has motivated me to work even harder to achieve my goals. I am determined to give my absolute best and do whatever it takes to win at the Asian Youth Games. This journey has only strengthened my commitment to keep improving and to one day represent my country at the highest stage.”

Congratulating the young talents, Lokesh Suji, Director, Esports Federation of India, said, “We couldn’t be prouder of Tanav’s and Keshav’s exceptional achievement in qualifying for the 3rd Asian Youth Games. Their unwavering dedication, refined skill, and competitive drive showcase the remarkable talent emerging from India’s esports community. Esports’ debut as an official medal discipline in Bahrain marks a watershed moment for the sport, and Tanav and Keshav carry forward not only national aspirations but also the promise of esports’ future in Asia. ESFI remains fully committed to equipping them with best-in-class training and support to ensure they excel on the international stage.”

Earlier ESFI had selected SF6 (Boys) squad also consisting of Mandalapu Sreesanth and Ansil Nalakath Abbas. Although ESFI had opened qualifiers for Rocket League as well, the process primarily attracted PC-based teams instead of PS5 squads. We also received two entries from female players in Street Fighter 6 and eFootball; however, after careful review of their gameplay, they did not yet meet the standard required for nomination to AYG. They will continue their training and development, and we are confident they will progress towards the skill level needed to compete in future international tournaments.

The qualification sets the stage for India’s continued participation in international esports competitions, following recent successes at prestigious tournaments including medals at the Asian Games 2018, Commonwealth Esports Championship 2022, and the BRICS Esports Championship 2024.

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