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Revenant Esports to represent India at the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League finals in Malaysia
Mumbai: Revenant Esports, one of the country’s leading Esports organisations have become the second Indian team at the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League Finals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The team put up a dominant performance in the final day of the India Qualifier to earn a slot at the offline event.
The Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions India Qualifier, hosted by Sky Sports, one of the leading esports tournament organizers in South Asia, took place from 8 January to 9 February with $8,500 on the line.
Revenant will now fly down to Malaysia alongside Marcos Gaming to compete in the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League finals on March 18 and 19. They will be up against the best teams from East Asia and Southeast Asia. The winner of the tournament will walk home with $30,000.
“We were one of the first Indian organizations to recognize the potential of Pokemon UNITE in the country and invested in it,” said Revenant Esports founder & CEO Rohit Jagasia. “After representing India last year in the World Championship, I am proud of our boys for qualifying for the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League LAN final in Malaysia despite faltering in the group stage. We are super pumped to have been able to represent our country twice in the same title and we are highly committed to invest in Pokémon UNITE in the future as well.”
Revenant’s run in the Indian Qualifier is one for the history books. The team, considered to be one of the best in the region, had a terrible start to the competition with three back-to-back losses to finish in last place in the Group Stage.
They made a tremendous comeback in the Playoffs, though, and won elimination matches against Gods Reign, True Rippers, and S8UL Esports to advance to the Grand Final.
In the grand final, they were up against the formidable Marcos Esports. However, the team continued its dream run in the playoffs to take them down 2-1 in an intense best-of-three series and become the champions of India.
“We had a really rocky start to the India qualifier and lost some crucial matches to finish in last at the group stage,” said Revenant Esports Pokémon UNITE team captain Jeet Kundra. “Luckily, the tournament’s format allowed us to compete in the Playoffs as well. We returned to the drawing board, worked really hard, analyzed our mistakes, and completed a dream comeback. It feels really great to become the Indian champions again and we look forward to representing the country in Kuala Lumpur.”
Revenant Esports was awarded $5,000 for their victory in the India Qualifier while Marcos Gaming received $2,500. Third-placed S8UL Esports pocketed $1,500.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
