S8UL has unveiled a landmark initiative for India’s fighting game community with the launch of the country’s first-ever FGC Talent Hunt Program, aimed at discovering and nurturing competitive gamers in Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6.

The six-month programme, scheduled to run from January to June 2026, seeks to create a structured development pathway for emerging players and strengthen India’s presence on the global fighting games stage.

Unlike conventional talent hunts that focus on short-term competitions, S8UL’s programme is designed as a full-fledged development ecosystem. The organisation will scout participants from across India, ultimately selecting six players—two specialising in Tekken 8 and four in Street Fighter 6. Selections will be made strictly on performance during nationwide qualifiers and finals, ensuring a merit-based entry into the programme.

S8UL said the chosen athletes will receive an unprecedented support system that includes professional coaching for each title, fully-funded participation in at least three international Tier-1 tournaments, and complete travel assistance covering flights, accommodation, meals, local transit, and tournament registrations. To help players focus on training, S8UL will also extend a monthly stipend. Additionally, the athletes will be integrated into the organisation’s high-visibility content ecosystem, providing them with narrative-building opportunities and significant community reach.

Speaking about the initiative, Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL Esports, said the programme aims to address long-standing structural gaps in India’s fighting game ecosystem. “India’s fighting game community has shown tremendous potential but players have rarely had access to a structured environment that supports long-term growth. Through this Talent Hunt Program, we want to change that by giving selected athletes professional coaching, international tournament experience, and the day-to-day support they need to improve. This is not just a short-term project for us—it’s the beginning of a sustained effort to help build a strong foundation for fighting games in India and give our players a fair chance to compete on the world stage,” he said.

The announcement reinforces S8UL’s expanding interest in fighting games. The organisation, which is the only Indian esports team competing across nine major titles, recently became the first Indian team selected for the Esports World Cup’s Club Partner Program. It has already participated in qualifiers for titles like Tekken 8 and Fatal Fury, signalling its long-term commitment to the FGC circuit.

S8UL’s state-of-the-art gaming facility—one of the most advanced in India—will play a central role in the programme. The setup includes structured training modules, analytics support, dedicated practice rooms, and in-house content studios. For the selected athletes, this environment will offer exposure to professional routines while also helping them learn brand-building, storytelling, and audience engagement, enabling them to evolve both as competitors and future esports personalities.

With global interest in fighting games rising, especially through platforms like EVO, the Esports World Cup, and the Asian Games, S8UL’s Talent Hunt arrives at a pivotal moment. The initiative is expected to give India’s fighting game hopefuls a structured route to international recognition, potentially positioning the country as an emerging force in the global FGC landscape.