India secured a landmark 2-1 victory over New Zealand in the bilateral esports Test Series held at the Armageddon Expo 2026 in Auckland. The historic triumph was headlined by Dr Abirami Iyer, who became the first Indian woman to win an international eFootball series on foreign soil.
The Indian contingent featured Dr Abirami Iyer in women’s eFootball, Chinmay Sahoo in men’s eFootball console, and Shagun Srivastava in women’s Clash Royale.
Series Victory & Historic Milestone
India took the early initiative in the series when Chinmay Sahoo delivered a composed 3-1 victory over New Zealand’s Josh in the men’s eFootball console match. Dr Abirami Iyer then sealed the series win for India with a dominant 3-0 sweep against Janetteski in the women’s eFootball category. In the Clash Royale fixture, Shagun Srivastava lost 0-3 to New Zealand’s Lokkie.
Reflecting on her achievement, Dr Abirami described representing India on the international stage as an unforgettable milestone. Balancing her medical profession with high-level competitive gaming taught her invaluable lessons in discipline, perseverance, and self-belief. She noted that the victory was especially meaningful as it challenged stereotypes and demonstrated that women can excel in competitive esports alongside demanding professional careers.
Chinmay Sahoo credited the high-pressure best-of-five contest for providing crucial international exposure as he prepares for the Los Angeles Global Esports Games (GEG) 2026. Both athletes expressed gratitude to the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) and key stakeholders for their continuous backing.
Centenary Celebrations & Landmark Esports MoU
The bilateral series coincided with celebrations marking 100 years of unity through sport between India and New Zealand.
To commemorate the occasion, the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) and the New Zealand Esports Federation Incorporated (NZ Esports) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement establishes a long-term framework for mutual cooperation, knowledge exchange, and collaborative development between the two nations’ gaming ecosystems.
