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Blind Esports triumph in Skyesports BGMI finale with 12,000 attendees in Bangalore
Mumbai: In a breathtaking display of top-notch gameplay and riveting action, the grand finale of the Skyesports Championship 5.0 BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) tournament, organised by Skyesports, Esports tournament organiser, came to a thrilling conclusion with Blind Esports emerging as the champions.
The event, powered By AMD with Zebronics as its gaming partner, was held at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium, Bangalore from 3 to 5 November where over 12,000 people witnessed the finest BGMI squads in the country battle it out for a total prize pool of Rs 1.25 crore. Loco, the world’s leading independent gaming, and Esports streaming platform was the Broadcast Partner for the event who live-streamed the final exclusively in English, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. Tecno POVA 5 Series was the smartphone partner.
With four Winner-Winner Chicken Dinners (WWCD), Blind Esports amassed a total of 170 points to secure the first position. Revenant Esports, with 160 points, secured second place, while OR Esports clinched the third spot with 150 points.
“Coming into this tournament, we knew we had what it took to win it all despite the high calibre of teams playing in the Skyesports Championship 5.0. It’s great to see that our countless hours of dedication and hard work paid off and kudos to my entire team who put their all into lifting this trophy. It is awesome to see that our first LAN Esports trophy came at the prestigious Skyesports Championship and we are more motivated than ever to continue with this momentum going into future tournaments. I also want to thank our fans who have supported us through thick and thin. This trophy is dedicated to them,” commented Blind Esports’ 16-year-old player Rudra “Spower” Banswani who was among the youngest players to attend the LAN finals.
Team Soul, with 137 points, finished fourth followed by Gods Reign, with 133 points claimed the fifth position, rounding off the top five. Ritesh “Fierce” Nawandar was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy for his remarkable gameplay throughout the three-day finals.
Alongside the thousands of gaming enthusiasts, the high-profile event was also attended by N. A. Haris, an honorable member of the Karnataka legislative assembly who voiced his support for the growth of Indian Esports by saying, “Seeing so much crowd is really very impressive and I can see that so many people are interested. I think Bangalore should have better infrastructure for Esports and we should make it a happening place. This is the step ahead and as the representative of people I am with you.”
Being India’s longest-running homegrown Esports IP, this was the fifth year of the Skyesports Championship. The total prize pool for the tournament was a staggering Rs 2,12,00,000 split between three Esports titles, one of which was BGMI.
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.
