The Esports Games Federation (ESGF) announced on Tuesday that Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra’s minister for sports and youth welfare, has been elected its president. The ESGF, which was launched earlier this year, is being positioned as an alternative to the Esports Federation of India (EFI), the country’s first recognised esports governing body. Shelar’s election was confirmed at a ceremony in Mumbai attended by state officials, representatives of gaming firms and a handful of professional players. In his acceptance speech, Shelar highlighted the rapid growth of competitive gaming in India, noting that the nation now boasts over 30 million active gamers and a burgeoning ecosystem of tournaments, streaming platforms and training academies.
The ESGF’s charter outlines three core pillars: nurturing talent through structured coaching programmes, expanding the domestic competition calendar, and facilitating Indian teams’ participation in international events such as the Asian Games and global esports leagues. The federation also intends to work closely with state governments to create dedicated esports arenas and to lobby for clearer regulatory guidelines on issues like betting, sponsorship and player contracts. By establishing a parallel governing structure, the ESGF hopes to address what its founders see as gaps in EFI’s outreach, especially in tier‑two and tier‑three cities where grassroots participation is still limited.
Industry observers see Shelar’s political clout as a potential catalyst for faster policy decisions. The minister has previously championed sports infrastructure projects in Maharashtra and is now expected to leverage his network to secure funding, corporate partnerships and media coverage for the ESGF’s upcoming initiatives, including a national league slated to launch next year.
