S8ul duo qualify for Asian Games 2026 in Tekken and Street Fighter

MUMBAI: Game on, India. Two controllers, countless hours of practice and a pair of clutch performances have punched and kicked their way onto one of Asia’s biggest sporting stages. S8ul Esports athletes Gurashish Singh, better known as Soul, and Prateek Bhaunt, known in the gaming community as B Haunt, have qualified to represent India at the Asian Games 2026 after winning their respective events at the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2026.

Soul secured the national title in Tekken 8, while B Haunt emerged victorious in Street Fighter 6, earning places in India’s esports contingent for the Games, scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026.

Their qualification marks another milestone for India’s rapidly growing fighting games ecosystem and highlights the impact of S8ul’s grassroots talent development programme, the S8ul Gauntlet. Both players were identified and nurtured through the initiative, which was launched to discover and support emerging fighting game talent across the country.

For Soul, the achievement adds to an expanding international résumé. The player previously represented India at the BRICS Esports Tournament 2025 and will now compete on an even bigger stage.

The Asian Games continue to play an increasingly important role in esports’ rise as a mainstream sporting discipline. After debuting as a demonstration event in Jakarta-Palembang in 2018 and becoming a medal sport at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, esports will return with 11 titles at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

Notably, Street Fighter, Tekken and King of Fighters will be contested under the Competitive Martial Arts category and combined into a single medal event.

Beyond the Asian Games, Soul and B Haunt remain part of S8UL’s wider international ambitions. Alongside fellow players Ansh Arora (Closing Regent), Prince, Mohammad Sameer (AK Arhaan) and Nakul Sharma (Weak Akuma), they are currently competing in qualification pathways for the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 across Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6 and Fatal Fury.

The organisation itself continues to build momentum on the global stage. Selected as an Esports Foundation Club Partner for a second consecutive year, S8UL has already secured qualification for EWC 2026 in Chess, Fortnite and Honor of Kings, while continuing to compete across multiple titles.

S8UL’s success story extends beyond fighting games. Its League of Legends roster, led by captain Akshaj Shenoy (Kat Bot), recently won NESC 2026 and will now compete in regional qualifiers from 12 to 14 June. Several members of the squad were also part of India’s fifth-placed League of Legends team at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

For India’s esports scene, the latest qualification is another sign that the country’s players are no longer just participating in global competitions, they are increasingly earning their place among the contenders. And for Soul and B Haunt, the next round now comes with something much bigger than a leaderboard: the Indian jersey.