India has qualified for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 VALORANT main event after advancing through the Asia regional qualifiers. The nation-based tournament runs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from November 2 to 29, with VALORANT scheduled for November 8 to 15.

The Asia qualifier featured nine teams in a double-elimination bracket, with best-of-one matches until the upper- and lower-bracket finals, which were best-of-three. India opened with a 13-2 win over Nepal, then dropped to the lower bracket after a 5-13 loss to Japan. The team then eliminated Pakistan (13-9) and Mongolia (13-10) before securing qualification by beating Hong Kong 2-0 (13-10, 13-6).

India’s roster includes in-game leader Sagnik Roy (Hellf) alongside Abhirup Choudhury (Lightningfast), Aman Yadav (Hoax), Venkatesh Sharma (Venky), and Daivik Chauhan (Dc). Norbu Tsering (Karam1L) and Shravana Sahoo (Techno) are listed as substitutes, with Abhishek Bajaj (GodspeedxD) named as coach. NODWIN Gaming is India’s National Team Partner (NTP) for ENC 2026.

Venky led the Asia qualifiers in eliminations with 117 across India’s six matches, according to the organiser. The company also said more than 100,000 viewers watched the Asia qualifier finals across co-streams and official ENC broadcasts.

Speaking about the qualification, Sagnik Roy (Hellf), IGL of India’s VALORANT team, said, “This qualification means a lot because of what it represents for India’s VALORANT scene. After the loss against Japan, we knew we had to reset quickly and focus on one game at a time. Every player stepped up when it mattered, and our ability to stay composed under pressure helped us turn things around. The growth of the game’s ecosystem over the last few years has created a pool of players capable of competing at the highest level, and this team is a reflection of that progress. Every international opportunity helps push the ecosystem forward and inspires the next generation of competitors. We are excited to compete at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup and want to make the most of this chance.”

ENC 2026 VALORANT will feature 32 national teams competing for a USD 1.5 million (~INR 14 crore) prize pool. Sixteen teams were invited via ENC Rankings based on official Riot Games competition results, with 14 places decided through regional qualifiers. The United Arab Emirates has a Host Region Wildcard, and one Solidarity Wildcard slot remains, due to be announced at the end of August once qualifiers conclude.

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Kunal Upreti, known as Spark, has qualified for Trackmania at the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 after winning the Asia regional qualifier, securing India’s sole spot in the title. The nation-based event is scheduled to run in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, 2026, with the Trackmania competition set for November 19 to 22.

ENC 2026 Trackmania will feature 32 players competing for a USD 250,000 (~INR 2 crore) prize pool. The field includes 16 direct invites from the publisher-operated Trackmania Elite Cup Rankings, 14 regional qualifier winners from competitions across the Americas, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia, and Oceania, plus a Host Region Wildcard secured by Plink of the United Arab Emirates. One Solidarity Wildcard slot is set to be awarded later this year.

Upreti advanced from an Asia qualifier that featured 20 competitors and was run in two stages: a Time Attack seeding phase followed by a double-elimination Cup Mode playoff bracket. According to the release, Upreti entered the playoff stage with a direct seed based on his Trackmania Elite Cup ranking, then finished first in every playoff match, scoring 122 points in each of his first three rounds and 143 points in the Grand Final.

The qualification adds to a strong 2026 for the 22-year-old, who represents S8UL Esports. The release said Upreti recently qualified for the Trackmania event at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 after placing second in the Asia & Oceania qualifier, making him India’s sole Trackmania representative at both ENC 2026 and EWC 2026.

Speaking about the result, Upreti said, “The ENC qualification means a lot because it gives me another opportunity to represent India on the international stage. The Asia qualifier featured some very strong competitors, so I’m pleased with how I performed throughout the event. The level of competition at ENC 2026 will be incredibly high, but those are exactly the events every player wants to compete in. I’m excited for the challenge ahead and looking forward to testing myself against some of the strongest players in the world.”

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OS Studios has appointed Ishaan Arya as Country Manager for India, tasking him with leading the agency’s expansion across newly established hubs in Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Mumbai. The appointment was announced on 25 June, 2026 in Bengaluru.

OS Studios, a Project Worldwide agency, said it recently entered the Indian market and will deploy its ‘Fan Z’ approach for brands looking to engage with gaming, esports and live events audiences in South Asia. The company said the expansion will leverage the infrastructure and production capabilities of sister agency George P. Johnson (GPJ) India.

“The future of gaming will be shaped by the communities that care about it most, and few markets embody that more than India,” said John Higgins, CEO of OS Studios. “To build something meaningful, you have to be part of the culture, not looking in from the outside. Ishaan understands that better than anyone. He’s exactly the kind of leader we want building the future of OS Studios in India.”

In the role, Arya will oversee operations, drive strategic brand partnerships, and scale local capabilities, according to the company. “Brands are investing heavily in Indian gaming, but true fan experience is too often an afterthought,” said Rasheed Sait, Chief Growth Officer for India and South Asia at Project Worldwide. “Alongside GPJ India’s experiential footprint, OS Studios will set a new standard for fan engagement in the region.”

Arya previously co-founded The Esports Club and most recently served as Vice President of Partnerships at Nodwin Gaming, where he led Comic Con India. “A massive gap remains between brand intent and authentic community engagement in India,” said Arya. “I’m thrilled to leverage Project Worldwide and GPJ India’s operational strength to build culture-defining experiences for brands and fans alike.”

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