Akshaj Shenoy to captain India’s League of Legends team at Asian Games 2026

Akshaj Shenoy will captain India’s League of Legends team at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, which 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.

Kochi-based Akshaj Shenoy, 24, who uses the moniker Kat Bot, first played PC titles such as Road Rash and Crash Bandicoot but found many newer games unplayable on his older machine. He discovered League of Legends at 15 via YouTube gameplay videos, used the Southeast Asian server and later formed his own team, Temple of Kings. Akshaj captained the Indian squad that finished fifth at the Asian Games 2023, when eSports featured as a medal competition after being a demonstration sport at the 2018 Games.

The League of Legends line-up travelling to Aichi-Nagoya comprises Akshaj Shenoy alongside Aakash Shandilya (Infi), Sanindhya Malik (Deadcorporal), Mihir Ranjan (Lotus), Ahmed Shahid (Nero) and Rahul Bisht (Bob). That group was part of S8UL eSports’ roster which qualified to represent India through the regional qualifier in June.

Describing his role on the map, Akshaj said, "The main objective of the game is to destroy your enemy base by accumulating resources and getting stronger. 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." He plays as a midlaner for the squad.

On preparation, Akshaj reflected: "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." The team has increased its practice hours and coach engagement ahead of the tournament.

Detailing daily routines, Akshaj said: "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." He also noted, "Since practice is usually at night, I spend the day at my dad’s office or studying. Your time-management skills matter a lot," and is balancing these commitments while pursuing an MBA.

On the broader eSports landscape and player welfare, Akshaj warned: "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." He also said, "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." Addressing career length and infrastructure, he added, "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." On competitive disadvantages, he said, "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."

Akshaj expressed clear ambitions for the tournament: "We will have a better showing than we did last time and are hoping for a medal." The Asian Games run from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.