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#India #locks #coaches #Esports #Nations #Cup #race #national #spots #begins">India locks in coaches for Esports Nations Cup 2026; race for national spots begins India has confirmed its coaching line-up for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, kickstarting the player selection process for the global, nation-based tournament set to be held in Riyadh from November 2 to 29.
As National Team Partner, NODWIN Gaming has appointed coaches across major titles, with each tasked with identifying talent, shaping strategy, and building competitive squads ahead of the qualification pathway.
India’s coaching line-up (key names and roles)
Moin Ejaz (NO_Chanc3) – DOTA 2
A Commonwealth Esports Championships 2022 bronze medallist, brings over a decade of competitive experience.
Rahul (Ayogi) – BGMI
Former analyst and coach who guided teams like Blind Esports and Team SouL to multiple titles, including BGMI Pro Series 2023 and BGIS 2026.
Abhishek Bajaj (GodspeedxD) – VALORANT
Known for title-winning stints with Reckoning, Bleed, Velocity, and Grayfox Esports.
Pankaj Upadhyay (KAKA) – League of Legends
One of India’s most recognised LoL players with multiple international appearances.
Steve Vitug (Dale) – MLBB (MOBA Legends: 5v5!)
Philippines-based coach with top-six finishes at world championships with Omega Esports and Falcon Esports.
Pratik Mehra (Aurum) – PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS
Former Fnatic coach; led teams to wins at PUBG Mobile All Stars India 2019 and strong international finishes.
Ashrit Goyal (notyAshritB) – Rainbow Six Siege
South Asia Nationals 2022 runner-up with consistent APAC performances.
Nirjhar Mitra (jocse) – Rocket League
Represented India internationally and won the Esportz Premier Series 2022.
Gradyano Valendy (Rinnqt) – Honor of Kings
Indonesian coach with experience at Rex Regum Qeon and global qualification pathways.
What this means
The appointment of coaches signals a structural shift, moving Indian esports closer to a national-team model with defined pathways and accountability. Player selections are due by May 10, with announcements expected from mid-May.
Published on Apr 24, 2026
India has confirmed its coaching line-up for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, kickstarting…
Sports news
#Deadspin #Inaugural #Bill #Walton #Classic #set #Nov #heavy #San #Diego #flavor">Deadspin | Inaugural Bill Walton Classic set for Nov. 7 with heavy San Diego flavor
Bill Walton with sons Luke (left) a player with Arizona and Chris, a player with San Diego State, before a game at Cox Arena on Dec. 7, 2002. The inaugural Bill Walton Classic will be played on Nov. 7 in San Diego, the Hall of Famer’s longstanding residence until his death due to cancer on May 27, 2024, at age 71.
San Diego State will play a to-be-determined opponent in the men’s half of a doubleheader. Walton was a fixture at games on the SDSU campus when his son, Chris, played for the Aztecs from 2000-05.
Walton was born in suburban La Mesa, minutes from the San Diego State campus. The doubleheader will be played at Pechanga Arena, which was known as the San Diego Sports Arena when Walton played games there as a member of the NBA’s San Diego Clippers in the early 1980s.
“This is long overdue,” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said at a press conference at Helix High in La Mesa. “Bill Walton was a treasure and anything we can do to put his name out there, we’re all for it.”
Walton first came into national prominence when he starred at Helix High before attending UCLA under legendary coach John Wooden. Walton led the Bruins to two national titles, highlighted by his 21-of-22 shooting performance while scoring 44 points in an 87-66 rout of Memphis State in the 1973 title game.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected “the Big Red Head” with the No. 1 pick in the 1974 NBA draft. Three years later, Walton led the Blazers to their lone NBA title. After suffering through years of foot injuries, he earned another ring with the Boston Celtics in 1986 to cap his 468-game NBA career. He was league MVP in the 1977-78 season for Portland.
Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. He continued to be a popular figure in his post-basketball life as a television commentator who would say off-the-cuff things and talk about this favorite band, the Grateful Dead.
“I’d love to wear something tie-dyed for that game,” Dutcher told reporters, referencing Walton’s love for such clothing.
The other Bill Walton Classic contest will be a women’s game between two local institutions: the University of San Diego and UC San Diego.
–Field Level Media
Bill Walton with sons Luke (left) a player with Arizona and Chris, a player with San Diego State, before a game at Cox Arena on Dec. 7, 2002. The inaugural Bill Walton Classic will be played on Nov. 7 in San Diego, the Hall of Famer’s longstanding residence until his death due to cancer on May 27, 2024, at age 71.
San Diego State will play a to-be-determined opponent in the men’s half of a doubleheader. Walton was a fixture at games on the SDSU campus when his son, Chris, played for the Aztecs from 2000-05.
Walton was born in suburban La Mesa, minutes from the San Diego State campus. The doubleheader will be played at Pechanga Arena, which was known as the San Diego Sports Arena when Walton played games there as a member of the NBA’s San Diego Clippers in the early 1980s.
“This is long overdue,” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said at a press conference at Helix High in La Mesa. “Bill Walton was a treasure and anything we can do to put his name out there, we’re all for it.”
Walton first came into national prominence when he starred at Helix High before attending UCLA under legendary coach John Wooden. Walton led the Bruins to two national titles, highlighted by his 21-of-22 shooting performance while scoring 44 points in an 87-66 rout of Memphis State in the 1973 title game.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected “the Big Red Head” with the No. 1 pick in the 1974 NBA draft. Three years later, Walton led the Blazers to their lone NBA title. After suffering through years of foot injuries, he earned another ring with the Boston Celtics in 1986 to cap his 468-game NBA career. He was league MVP in the 1977-78 season for Portland.
Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. He continued to be a popular figure in his post-basketball life as a television commentator who would say off-the-cuff things and talk about this favorite band, the Grateful Dead.
“I’d love to wear something tie-dyed for that game,” Dutcher told reporters, referencing Walton’s love for such clothing.
The other Bill Walton Classic contest will be a women’s game between two local institutions: the University of San Diego and UC San Diego.
–Field Level Media
Bill Walton with sons Luke (left) a player with Arizona and Chris, a player with San Diego State, before a game at Cox Arena on Dec. 7, 2002. The inaugural Bill Walton Classic will be played on Nov. 7 in San Diego, the Hall of Famer’s longstanding residence until his death due to cancer on May 27, 2024, at age 71.
San Diego State will play a to-be-determined opponent in the men’s half of a doubleheader. Walton was a fixture at games on the SDSU campus when his son, Chris, played for the Aztecs from 2000-05.
Walton was born in suburban La Mesa, minutes from the San Diego State campus. The doubleheader will be played at Pechanga Arena, which was known as the San Diego Sports Arena when Walton played games there as a member of the NBA’s San Diego Clippers in the early 1980s.
“This is long overdue,” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said at a press conference at Helix High in La Mesa. “Bill Walton was a treasure and anything we can do to put his name out there, we’re all for it.”
Walton first came into national prominence when he starred at Helix High before attending UCLA under legendary coach John Wooden. Walton led the Bruins to two national titles, highlighted by his 21-of-22 shooting performance while scoring 44 points in an 87-66 rout of Memphis State in the 1973 title game.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected “the Big Red Head” with the No. 1 pick in the 1974 NBA draft. Three years later, Walton led the Blazers to their lone NBA title. After suffering through years of foot injuries, he earned another ring with the Boston Celtics in 1986 to cap his 468-game NBA career. He was league MVP in the 1977-78 season for Portland.
Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. He continued to be a popular figure in his post-basketball life as a television commentator who would say off-the-cuff things and talk about this favorite band, the Grateful Dead.
“I’d love to wear something tie-dyed for that game,” Dutcher told reporters, referencing Walton’s love for such clothing.
The other Bill Walton Classic contest will be a women’s game between two local institutions: the University of San Diego and UC San Diego.
–Field Level Media
Bill Walton with sons Luke (left) a player with Arizona and Chris, a player with…
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#UEFA #president #Ceferin #understand #refereeing #decisions">UEFA president Ceferin ‘can’t understand’ many refereeing decisions
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said Thursday that he often struggles to understand the interpretation of the rules of football since the implementation of VAR.
“Sometimes the supporters can’t understand some interpretations of the rules. I can’t understand it many times,” Ceferin said during a conference in Madrid.
“For example, the handball, nobody understands it. Is it a penalty? Is it not a penalty? Nobody knows. It was intentional, how do you know? You’re not a psychiatrist.”
The head of the governing body of European football also bemoaned the length of time some VAR interventions take on the pitch.
“We try to explain to the referees that the referee on the pitch is the one that decides,” Ceferin said.
“And only if it’s a clear and obvious mistake, you intervene. And even interventions should be fast, not just in Spanish league. I saw it in Premier League, sometimes 10-15 minutes of watching something.”
He also called for a greater harmonisation of the interpretation of the rules across Europe’s different domestic leagues.
“I see that sometimes referees who are refereeing on the European level are refereeing differently than in their own leagues,” the Slovenian said.
“Because they have different referee bosses in the leagues. So I think we should, because it’s one game and it should be the same way.”
Ceferin added that the best way to avoid mistakes was to “strictly try to obey” the International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules.
Published on Apr 24, 2026
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said Thursday that he often struggles to understand the interpretation of the rules of football since the implementation of VAR.
“Sometimes the supporters can’t understand some interpretations of the rules. I can’t understand it many times,” Ceferin said during a conference in Madrid.
“For example, the handball, nobody understands it. Is it a penalty? Is it not a penalty? Nobody knows. It was intentional, how do you know? You’re not a psychiatrist.”
The head of the governing body of European football also bemoaned the length of time some VAR interventions take on the pitch.
“We try to explain to the referees that the referee on the pitch is the one that decides,” Ceferin said.
“And only if it’s a clear and obvious mistake, you intervene. And even interventions should be fast, not just in Spanish league. I saw it in Premier League, sometimes 10-15 minutes of watching something.”
He also called for a greater harmonisation of the interpretation of the rules across Europe’s different domestic leagues.
“I see that sometimes referees who are refereeing on the European level are refereeing differently than in their own leagues,” the Slovenian said.
“Because they have different referee bosses in the leagues. So I think we should, because it’s one game and it should be the same way.”
Ceferin added that the best way to avoid mistakes was to “strictly try to obey” the International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules.
Published on Apr 24, 2026
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said Thursday that he often struggles to understand the interpretation of…
