Riyadh: NODWIN Gaming has announced its coaching line-up for India ahead of the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), marking a significant step in building structured national teams for global competition. The tournament, organised by the Esports Foundation, is set to debut in Riyadh from November 2–29, 2026.
The Esports Foundation confirmed the appointment of over 700 game coaches representing National Team Partners (NTPs) across more than 100 nations and territories. As India’s designated NTP, NODWIN Gaming will lead team formation, grassroots development, and professional participation, while collaborating with publishers, clubs, and ecosystem stakeholders.
As part of this initiative, NODWIN Gaming has appointed coaches across key esports titles. Moin Ejaz (NO_Chanc3) will lead India’s DOTA 2 campaign, bringing over a decade of competitive experience, including a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Esports Championships 2022. Rahul (Ayogi) has been named coach for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), with a track record of guiding teams like Blind Esports and Team SouL to major titles.
Abhishek Bajaj (GodspeedxD) takes charge as VALORANT coach, having led multiple teams to championship wins, while Pankaj Upadhyay (KAKA) will oversee League of Legends, bringing extensive international playing experience.
For MOBA Legends: 5v5!, Steve Vitug (Dale) joins from the Philippines with global tournament exposure. Pratik Mehra (Aurum) will coach PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, backed by his experience with Fnatic. Ashrit Goyal (notyAshritB) has been appointed for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, while Nirjhar Mitra (jocse) will guide the Rocket League team. Indonesian coach Gradyano Valendy (Rinnqt) will lead Honor of Kings, adding further international depth to the roster.
The announcement marks the beginning of the player selection phase, with coaches tasked with identifying talent, shaping team strategies, and building competitive line-ups.
“The appointment of coaches marks a crucial milestone in India’s journey towards the Esports Nations Cup 2026. Each coach has been selected for their deep understanding of the game, competitive experience, and ability to identify and nurture talent within their respective titles. We are confident that this coaching group will lay a solid foundation for India’s campaign on the global stage,” said Nimish Raut, Global Head of Esports: Partnerships & Special Projects, NODWIN Gaming.
The broader coaching pool reflects the diversity and scale of global esports, with talent drawn from over 90 leading esports organisations worldwide, including world champions, experienced leaders, and emerging professionals.
“The Esports Nations Cup is being built step by step, and appointing team coaches is the next critical layer in that structure,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation. “If teams are what make esports intuitive for a mainstream audience, coaches are what make them credible for players and fans. They bring identity, direction, and standards to each team. With more than 700 coaches now in place across over 100 National Team Partners, we’re turning the idea of nation-based competition into something people can understand instantly and believe in — a system that is structured, real, and ready to perform on the world stage.”
Attention now turns to finalising player selections, with roster submissions due by May 10 and announcements expected from mid-May. Participants across solo and team-based titles will be identified through open qualifiers, with further details to be announced soon.
The ENC introduces a structured, nation-based format to the global esports calendar, enabling countries to build talent pipelines and compete at an international level, while strengthening the connection between local ecosystems and global competition.
