Asian Games 2026 Esports: Soul And B Haunt Secure India Berths In Tekken 8 And Street Fighter 6

S8UL Esports athletes Gurashish Singh (Soul) and Prateek Bhaunt (B Haunt) qualified for Asian Games 2026 berths. Soul will represent India in Tekken 8. B Haunt will compete in Street Fighter 6. Both places were earned by winning at the National Esports Championships 2026 (NESC 2026).

The Asian Games 2026 takes place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. The duo will be part of India’s esports contingent for the 20th Asian Games. Soul previously represented India at the BRICS Esports Tournament 2025. The results also highlight India’s growing fighting game scene.

Both players sealed qualification by topping their respective NESC 2026 events. Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6 are among the esports titles at the Games. The Street Fighter, Tekken, and King of Fighters series will be grouped together. They will be contested under Competitive Martial Arts as one medal event.

Esports continues to expand at the Asian Games level. It first appeared as a demonstration event at Jakarta-Palembang 2018. It later became a full medal sport at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. Asian Games 2026 will feature 11 esports titles across the programme.

Soul and B Haunt entered S8UL Esports through the S8UL Gauntlet. The programme is a fighting games talent hunt. It aims to find and support emerging players. Their NESC 2026 wins added a key milestone for that pathway. It also underlined S8UL’s focus on grassroots development.

"Representing India at the Asian Games is something every athlete dreams of. I've had the opportunity to wear the Indian jersey before at the BRICS Esports Tournament, but qualifying for the Asian Games is on a completely different level. The support I've received through S8UL's Fighting Games Talent Hunt Program has played a huge role in my journey, giving me access to coaching, tournament opportunities, and the resources needed to compete consistently. I'm grateful for the trust placed in me and fully focused on preparing to make India proud on the continental stage."

"Winning NESC and earning the chance to represent India at the Asian Games is one of the biggest achievements of my career so far. The Fighting Games Talent Hunt Program gave me an opportunity that very few players in the ecosystem have had access to, and it has helped me grow tremendously as a competitor. I am excited for the challenge ahead and determined to give my best for the country,"

Under the talent hunt initiative, six athletes receive structured support. This includes professional coaching and paid entries for events. It also covers travel help and a monthly stipend. Players are also added to S8UL’s content system. The wider group includes Ansh Arora, Prince, Mohammad Sameer, and Nakul Sharma.

Asian Games 2026 build-up alongside EWC 2026

Alongside the Asian Games 2026 build-up, S8UL athletes are in an Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 campaign. The six fighting game players are chasing qualification routes in Fatal Fury, Street Fighter 6, and Tekken 8. S8UL was also named a Club Partner by the Esports Foundation for a second year.

S8UL already qualified for EWC 2026 in Chess, Fortnite, and Honor of Kings. The group is still competing in qualification routes in other titles. Campa Energy is listed as the Title Sponsor for the EWC 2026 campaign. The organisation linked these efforts to long-term player development and international exposure.

"From the very beginning, the idea behind the S8UL Gauntlet was simple: identify talented fighting game players, give them access to the resources they need, and help them compete at the highest level. Seeing Soul and B Haunt qualify for the Asian Games is a direct outcome of that effort. Both of them have put in an immense amount of work over the past year, and they’ve made the most of every opportunity available to them. Representing India at an event of this scale is a huge achievement, and we’re proud to see them carry Indian fighting games onto one of the biggest stages in international sport."

S8UL also recorded progress in other Asian Games routes. The League of Legends roster won at NESC 2026 and moves to regional qualifiers. Those matches run from June 12 to 14. The lineup includes Akshaj Shenoy, Aakash Shandilya, Sanindhya Malik, Mihir Ranjan, Ahmed Shahid, and Rahul Bisht.

Akshaj Shenoy, Aakash Shandilya, Sanindhya Malik, and Mihir Ranjan were part of India’s Hangzhou Asian Games squad. That team finished fifth in League of Legends. With Soul and B Haunt now confirmed for Asian Games 2026, S8UL’s results span fighting games and team titles. The next steps are preparation and qualifiers already scheduled.