We are ready to take India to the Olympics: Bengaluru-based Esports team Gods Reign

For team Gods Reign, who recently clinched victory at the national esports championship in Bengaluru, the dream, now, is to take India to the Olympics. The team of five - Bhavesh Sejwani (Bhavi), Aakash Bose (Ph1NNN), Rahul Banerjee (R2B2), Kiran (Rossi), and Harsh Jain (f1redupp) are all full-time esports athletes who compete at the highest level internationally. In an exclusive chat with Bangalore Times, the team said, “We are better together, and that’s what makes us a powerhouse.”
‘What started as a passion became a profession'
Each player has embarked on their esports journey for different reasons. For Rahul, it was his father’s and brother’s passion for video games that ignited his own whereas Aakash started playing with “no idea that someday he would be competing at an international level”. Kiran found his calling while playing in a local tournament. Bhavesh was also drawn to the online gaming scene because of his friends. Harsh has always enjoyed playing online games. “I, too, never thought of competing but it was my friends who saw I had talent and pushed me towards it,” he says.

‘The road to this journey was full of criticism, but victory tastes sweeter because of it'
The team says that they remain unbothered by social skepticism. “I never really told anyone that I am serious about esports as a career. I only shared the news until I reached a certain level,” says Harsh. Kiran who was raised by a single parent, says “I wasn’t sure if I was choosing the right career path. My relatives doubted me since I wasn’t good at academics. But when everyone saw me on the global stage, their skepticism turned into pride,” shares Kiran. “The road to this journey was full of criticism, but the victory tastes sweeter because of it,” they tell us.

‘We are better together and that’s what makes us the powerhouse’
Kiran credits the team’s strength and trust for their reliable approaches in the game. “We have got the discipline, the drive, and the teamwork that contribute to make us the powerhouse,’ says Kiran. “All of us bring our unique skills to the team and we have the innate drive in us to represent Indian esports on the global stage,” adds Harsh.
‘Koramangala is our go-to place in Bengaluru’
Outside of gaming, the team enjoys having any form of physical activity in their routine – from playing cricket, and badminton to taking long walks, working out, and reading books. “If sleep counts as a physical activity then we all love to do it as well,” laughs Rahul. These esports athletes are big-time foodies and love to have a good time partying in Koramangala.