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CS:GO outfits Top-G and Purr-ple set to lock horns at the National Esports Championships 2023
Mumbai: Enhancing the excitement of the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2023, the country’s two teams Top-G and Purr-ple, are set to create history by becoming the first all-female CS:GO teams from India to compete for a place at the global finals of the World Esports Championships (WEC) when they go head to head against each other on 18 March.
The ongoing NESC 2023 organized by the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) will be selecting the Indian contingent for the upcoming 15 WEC in Iasi, Romania, and is witnessing the participation of 275 athletes across four different titles – CS:GO, DOTA 2, Tekken7, and eFootball 2023.
Team Top-G is led by team captain Swayambika Sachar (Sway) and comprises Nidhi Salekar (Stormyyy), Priyanka Choudhary (ALEXAA), Dilraj Kaur Matharu (COCO), and gamer Shagufta Iqbal (xyaa). The roster’s high-quality gameplay, tactics, and attacking proficiency have made them an all-round efficient unit that performs at the highest level.
Speaking on the historic matchup, Sachar said, “I am really grateful that ESFI has given us this wonderful opportunity to compete on such a notable platform and I hope that our team can make the most of it. Our team has spent countless hours of practicing and strategizing for this matchup and we will portray that through our performance by putting up a tough fight. We not only want to create history by becoming first female CS:GO team from India to participate at the World Esports Championships but also inspire other women to pursue their passion in gaming by making it a serious career option. I am confident that the team will give it their all to prevail in tomorrow’s contest.”
Their opponents, team Purr-ple consists of skipper Mansi Rajesh Sottany (MatkA QueeN), Uzma Zaki (Meowkasa), Mrinal Baranwal (Jollies10), Pragnya Spruha (P1Xie), Avantika Pal (Avantiee) and Manpreet Kaur (MkS). The squad is known for its smart strategies, dazzling performances and supreme technical skills.
“We are thrilled to participate in the national qualifiers to compete in a title that we have been playing for so many years. India’s Esports industry is witnessing a paradigm shift with the rise of female gamers and I am proud of belonging to the community that is significantly contributing to the growth of the sector. My teammates are well prepared for the match tomorrow and I have full faith in them to utilize their expertise to lead the team to glory. I would like to thank ESFI for presenting us with this platform to showcase our talent in front of the country,” said Sottany.
The winner of this high-intensity clash will be competing in a friendly match against another female CS:GO team from a different country in order to confirm their place at the WEC 2023.
Expressing her feelings, Kaur said, “I am honored to be a part of Team India in this championship. The opportunity of potentially representing my country on a global platform is a dream come true and I am ready to give my all to bring home the victory. With women empowerment being on the rise in Indian Esports, these qualifiers are a chance to inspire every aspiring female gamer in the country.”
The 15 World Esports Championship 2023 will have a prize pool of $500,000 and is set to be the largest edition of the tournament to date with at least 130 countries participating in it. The global finals of the prestigious tournament will take place from 24 August to 4 September 2023.
One of the country’s top sports & esports communication agencies, Artsmith-Concepts & Visions, will continue its support to the Esports Federation of India as their official communication partner.
The match will be played in a best-of-3 format and will begin at 8 pm with its action being streamed live on ESFI’s Youtube, Facebook, and Glance Gaming channels.
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.
