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India’s street fighters ready for medal quest at Asian Games 2022
Mumbai: The highly anticipated draws for all Esports titles at the ongoing Asian Games 2022 have been officially announced with India’s leading Street Fighter V: Champion Edition athletes set to commence their campaign against Saudi Arabia and Vietnam on 26 September.
The country’s experienced athlete, Mayank Prajapati (MiKeYROG) will go head to head against T.F. Rajikhan (Taloobreaker) of Saudi Arabia while his teammate, Ayan Biswas (AYAN01), will be up against K.H.C Nguyen (Shin) of Vietnam to kick off their respective campaigns. Both athletes will begin the tournament in the Round of 32 which will be contested in the double-elimination format
Reflecting on the tournament commencing, Mayank Prajapati stated, “The road to the Asian Games has been challenging, but now that the tournament is upon us the feeling is surreal. We have left no stone unturned in our preparation for the title and eagerly await to take on our opponents. I would like to thank ESFI for their invaluable support in terms of providing us with the best possible equipment and coaching to help us perform at the highest level,”
A total of 35 notable athletes from 22 countries will be battling it out for a medal in Street Fighter V: Champion Edition. All matches will be conducted in the best-of-three (BO3) format and the loser bracket final and grand final will be played in a best-of-seven (BO7) format.
“Getting the opportunity to represent India at such a prestigious international tournament in Street Fighter for an official medal is a sign of how far Esports has come. Competing at the Asian Games 2022 is more than a personal achievement for us as the entire nation’s hopes are on our shoulders. We hope to make the country proud with our performances and win a historic medal at the tournament,” commented Ayan Biswas.
Mayank and Ayan earned their spots for the Asian Games 2022 by reaching the finals of the National Esports Championships (NESC) organized by the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) last year. The two players are well-renowned names in the Indian Street Fighter V community having dominated the game for a long period.
“Now that the draws have been announced, we are confident about our medal prospects in all the titles. Our Street Fighter athletes who have left a lasting impact on the Indian Street Fighter community are all set to showcase their skills against the continent’s best talent on the international stage. Having witnessed their tireless training and competitive spirit, we believe they have what it takes to excel and are confident in their abilities to make the nation proud,” said Esports Federation of India director Lokesh Suji and vice president of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF) Lokesh Suji.
One of the country’s top sports and Esports communication agencies, Artsmith-Concepts & Visions, will continue its support to the Esports Federation of India as its official communication partner.
Having been featured as a demonstration event in 2018, Esports will be making its full-fledged debut as an official medal sport at the Asian Games 2022. The Esports event will be held in China Hangzhou Esports Centre from September 24 to October 2, with India participating in four of the seven total titles: DOTA 2, EA Sports FC Online, League of Legends, and Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.
India’s supremely talented EA Sports FC Online athletes will kick off the country’s Esports campaign as Charanjot Singh takes on Liu Jiacheng of China and Karman Singh faces A.A. Faqeehi of Bahrain on September 24.
Following EA Sports FC Online, the nation’s League of Legends which has been seeded directly to quarter-finals will commence its campaign against the winner of the group comprising Japan, Palestine, and Vietnam on September 27.
The country’s DOTA 2 team has been drawn in Group A alongside Kyrgyzstan and Philippines with their group matchups scheduled to take place on September 29. The winner of the group will then square off against Nepal on September 30.
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.
