ESFI director Lokesh Suji retains South Asia VP position in Asian Electronic Sports Federation

In a major development for Indian esports, Lokesh Suji, the Director of the Esports Federation of India (ESFI), got re-elected as Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) South Asia’s Vice President. His victory came with no opposition during the Federation’s recent electoral proceedings. It underscores the increasing influence of India in the global esports arena. It also marks another milestone in Suji's distinguished career, which is dedicated to making esports improvements across the region.


Lokesh Suji was reappointed during the AESF’s Electoral General Assembly in Hong Kong, on April 10, 2025. It was attended by the 38 member nations representatives. Having held his position since the inception of AESF, Suji's unopposed win signals strong confidence in his leadership.
Thailand’s Santi Lothong, the new AESF President, commended Suji's “unwavering dedication” to developing esports in South Asia. Even Kenneth Fok, the outgoing president, highlighted Suji's “passion and commitment” to shaping the key initiatives. These endorsements reflect upon the proven track record of Suji in fostering talent and securing the place of India in global esports. With his continued leadership, the region is expected to see some promising growth.

Suji has played a pivotal role in shaping competitive gaming policies across the region. His re-election comes at the time when India is performing well in the international esports arena. The teams are creating a distinguished mark with their strong performances. They are securing medals and creating a space in events like the "Commonwealth Esports Championship 2022" and the "Asian Games 2022."
As per the newly reelected VP, “This re-election is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the remarkable growth of esports in India and South Asia” . His vision is to secure better opportunities, recognition, and platforms for the players and the federations within the region.

AESF, is an Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) recognized official esports governing body. It has been a key role player within the integration of esports into some major multi-sport events. Asian Esports Games 2018 and 2022, are some of the organized events by AESF. It featured some of the top-tier titles like FIFI Online, Street Fighter 6, and Dota 2.
The Federation is also to serve as the Technical Delegate for Esports at the 2026 Asian Games, held at Aichi-Nagoya. It will ensure the competitive integrity and the global standards. With the transitioning leadership of AESF, with Santi Lothong as the new president and Suji continuing to represent the South Asian countries, a lot of better changes are expected.

Under the guidance of Suji, ESFI is now driving initiatives like the WAVES Esports Championship (WESC) and the Create in India challenge under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. As part of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit, the event will be conducted between May 1 and 4, 2025, in Mumbai. The aim of it is to nurture some homegrown talent and offer them global exposure.
The recent successes of India in the Asian Games and the BRICS Esports Championship further highlight India's competitive potential. With the continued efforts of EFSI, the country is now poised to be a major force within the esports world.