SOGF and IESF join forces to bring international esports tournaments to India

Non-profit organisation Skillhub Online Games Federation (SOGF) and the International Esports Federation (IESF) have joined forces to bring international esports tournaments to India.

With the support of India’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport, the collaboration between the SOGF and the IESF aims to ‘position India as a global leader in online competitive and skill-based gaming.’

In October 2024, representatives from the two parties participated in a meeting to discuss how the partnership has the potential to shape ‘the future of India’s esports ecosystem,’ according to a release.

India’s politicians are no strangers to discussing the country’s esports industry. In April 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with a number of stakeholders and esports players to discuss recent developments within the industry.

In September, SOGF also unveiled a partnership with the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) with the aim to build an ecosystem for mind game developers and gamers.

The IESF continues to operate its own esports competitions around the world. In July, it opened the bidding process for the 2025 and 2026 runnings of the World Esports Championship revealing it is open to any cities looking to host the multi-title event.

Shankar Aggarwal, President of the SOGF, spoke on the news: “We are extremely thankful to the government and IESF for turning things around in such a short period of time. India’s potential in esports is immense, and this collaboration has the power to transform the esports landscape in the country.

“With the support of the government and international bodies like IESF, we aim to foster a fair and thriving ecosystem. Our commitment is to nurture talent, regulate the industry, and ensure that Indian athletes have every opportunity to excel on the global stage.”