S8UL Esports athletes Gurashish Singh and Prateek Bhaunt have qualified to represent India at the 2026 Asian Games after emerging victorious in their respective categories at the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2026. The two fighting game specialists will compete in ‘Tekken 8’ and ‘Street Fighter 6’, carrying India’s hopes in esports at the continental event scheduled to be held in Japan later this year.

According to an S8UL press release, Gurashish Singh, popularly known as Soul, clinched the national title in ‘Tekken 8’, while Prateek Bhaunt, known in the esports community as B Haunt, secured top honours in ‘Street Fighter 6’. Their victories at NESC 2026, the official qualification tournament for India’s Asian Games esports contingent, earned them spots on Team India for the prestigious event.

Soul’s qualification adds another milestone to a growing international career. The player had previously represented India at the BRICS Esports Tournament in 2025 and is regarded as one of the country’s leading fighting game competitors. Both Soul and B Haunt are products of the S8UL Gauntlet, a dedicated fighting games talent hunt initiative launched by S8UL to identify and nurture emerging esports talent across the country.

Expressing his excitement, Soul said representing India at the Asian Games is a dream for every athlete. He credited the support received through S8UL’s talent development programme for helping him access coaching, tournament opportunities and professional resources necessary to compete consistently at the highest level.

The qualification comes ahead of the 20th Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi and Nagoya from September 19 to October 4. Esports will feature 11 titles at the Games, continuing its growth as a medal sport after its successful inclusion at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. Fighting game franchises including Street Fighter, Tekken and King of Fighters will compete under the Competitive Martial Arts category.

B Haunt described his qualification as one of the biggest achievements of his career, noting that the S8UL Gauntlet provided opportunities rarely available within the Indian fighting games ecosystem. He said the programme played a key role in his growth as a competitive player and has prepared him for the challenge of representing India on the continental stage.

S8UL’s talent development programme currently supports six selected athletes with professional coaching, funded participation in domestic and international tournaments, travel assistance, monthly stipends and content creation opportunities. Soul and B Haunt are also part of the organisation’s campaign for the 2026 Esports World Cup, where they continue to compete in qualification events across multiple fighting game titles.

Commenting on the achievement, Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL Esports, said the success of Soul and B Haunt validates the vision behind the S8UL Gauntlet initiative. He noted that both players have demonstrated exceptional commitment over the past year and earned the opportunity to represent India on one of the biggest sporting stages in the world.

Beyond the fighting game category, S8UL athletes have also qualified for further Asian Games esports pathways in ‘League of Legends’. The organisation’s League of Legends roster won the NESC 2026 title and will now compete in regional qualifiers later this month, further strengthening India’s presence in international esports competition.

With representation across multiple disciplines and continued investment in grassroots development, S8UL remains one of the leading forces driving the growth of competitive gaming in India. The qualification of Soul and B Haunt for the Asian Games marks another significant step in the country’s expanding esports journey on the global stage.