Asian Games 2026: Gamer Akshaj Shenoy on leading the Indian contingent for League of Legends, an eSports event

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For Kochi-based Akshaj Shenoy, a love for gaming began with classic personal computer titles such as Road Rash, the ’90s motorcycle racing game developed by Electronic Arts, and Crash Bandicoot, a 3D platformer by Naughty Dog. But his outdated computer could not support many of the games he wanted to play.

At 15, Akshaj discovered League of Legends, a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) game, through YouTube gameplay videos. Fortunately, the game ran on his PC. He played on the Southeast Asian server and eventually built his own team, Temple of Kings.

Now 24, Akshaj, who goes by the moniker Kat Bot, is captain of India’s League of Legends team at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, set to take place from September 19 to October 4. India is sending a 15-member contingent to compete in four of the 11 eSports events: League of Legends, Pokémon UNITE, eFootball and Puyo Puyo Champions.

The League of Legends squad, comprising Aakash Shandilya (Infi), Sanindhya Malik (Deadcorporal), Mihir Ranjan (Lotus), Ahmed Shahid (Nero) and Rahul Bisht (Bob), was part of S8UL eSports’ roster that qualified to represent India through the regional qualifier in June.

Akshaj also led the team that finished fifth at the Asian Games 2023, when eSports were introduced as a medal competition. It had featured as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

“The main objective of the game is to destroy your enemy base by accumulating resources and getting stronger,” says Akshaj, who plays the role of a midlaner. “The game map is a square divided into two triangles with three lanes. I will be on the middle lane, helping the team through the map and acting as a facilitator for the team.”

Their approach this year, he says, remains largely the same, but the preparation has intensified. “Last year’s Games were our first international event; we were against titans on the big stage immediately after one regional competition. While our approach hasn’t changed much, we have been dedicating more time to practising. Our preparation method has changed. We are spending twice the time we spent during the last edition, and we have had more time with our coach, Samuel Boudrie,” he says.

“It’s an intense game, and you must be good at an individual level while also fighting as a team. We prioritise both solo and team practices. During the day, we play independently whenever we get free time and at night, we play as a team for at least three sessions, which last for a total of four to five hours, followed by a review meeting with the coach,” says Akshaj, who is also pursuing an MBA.

“Since practice is usually at night, I spend the day at my dad’s office or studying. Your time-management skills matter a lot,” he adds.

Akshaj, however, cautions against the addictive nature of gaming. “They are designed to attract players and retain them. Essentially, games are meant for relaxation. So, once it gets competitive, the entire dynamic changes. People should be self-aware and spend time depending on whether they want to treat it like a competition or a leisure activity.”

Akshaj believes the inclusion of eSports is only the beginning. “While only mobile games have been gaining traction recently, people are upgrading their setups and trying other games. There are newer titles coming up, and more governments are supporting athletes and the sector, which is boosting the scene.”

He also points out that eSports athletes have a shorter average career span than traditional athletes. “Factors such as age will affect your response speed. So, if someone wants to pursue eSports, they should eventually focus on content creation as well,” he says.

For the sector to grow, however, he believes the necessary infrastructure needs to be put in place. “For instance, the game I play doesn’t have a server for us, which puts us at a disadvantage at the competitive level. We are not used to playing games with low lag or input latency. These titles are reaction-based, so your input and ping levels matter. But for games like PUBG: Battlegrounds, some of this framework has been put in place, showing that games can be lucrative career choices.”

As for the upcoming Asian Games, Akshaj’s expectations are high. “We will have a better showing than we did last time and are hoping for a medal.”

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