The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium witnessed a historic convergence on Sunday as ‘Bharat in Paris’ celebrated India’s Olympic journey and the imminent inclusion of Esports in the global sporting arena. Organized ahead of the Paris Olympics from July 26 to August 11, the event marked a significant milestone in integrating traditional sports with India’s burgeoning Esports sector.
Under the patronage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to elevate India as a sports powerhouse, the inaugural run symbolized the nation’s preparedness to host future Olympics. Chief Guest Giriraj Singh, Minister of Textiles, flagged off the event, joined by Guest of Honour Manoj Tiwari, Member of Parliament.
Singh commended the event organizers, Abhishek Issar and Ishan Verma, highlighting India’s remarkable strides in global sports and expressing optimism about Esports’ potential to secure Olympic medals alongside traditional disciplines.
Tiwari extended well wishes to Indian athletes heading to Paris, emphasizing the importance of Esports’ recognition in motivating enthusiasts and fostering sporting excellence.
Additionally, UNIV Sportatech’s initiative included an Esports tournament alongside the run, offering a prize pool of INR 2,64,000. The event featured games such as BGMI, E-Chess, and EA Sports FC24, attracting participation from across India and culminating in a grand celebration uniting athletes and Esports icons.
Abhishek Issar, Founder of UNIV Sportatech, highlighted the event’s role in advancing India’s Olympic aspirations and fostering Esports talent nationwide, supported by state-level policies advocated by the central government.
Ishan Verma, Co-founder of UNIV Sportatech, underscored ‘Bharat in Paris’ as a step towards integrating Esports into mainstream sports, aiming to position India as a global leader in Esports.
The event concluded with felicitations for winners by renowned Esports athletes, reflecting India’s growing prominence in the digital sports landscape.
