For most families, a childhood obsession with computer games is something expected to fade once studies, jobs and adult responsibilities take over. For Rahul “Bob” Bisht, gaming did exactly the opposite — it kept getting bigger, eventually carrying him all the way to the Asian Games as a member of India’s League of Legends team.
Rahul, currently a support player for S8UL Esports, is part of the Indian League of Legends squad competing under the national banner at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
India secured its place after progressing through the Asian Games regional qualifiers held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from June 12 to 14. The Olympic Council of Asia said 14 teams entered the qualification tournament, with six advancing to join South Korea and Chinese Taipei in the Asian Games medal competition.
For Rahul’s family, however, the story began long before esports arenas, national jerseys or international tournaments.
The Child Who Played With Batteries
I have known Rahul since we were children. Calling him naughty would probably be putting it mildly.
But there was always something unusual about the way he played.
While the rest of us were interested in conventional toys, Rahul would often be occupied with batteries, wires and small electrical experiments. He would try powering miniature cars, build tiny working fans and put together whatever little contraption his imagination could produce.
That was his version of play.
We played with toy cars and Hot Wheels. Rahul played with the technology behind making things move.
Then computers entered our lives.
Like millions of children growing up during that period, we discovered computer games. We played together for a while, but eventually life followed its predictable course. Studies became serious, careers arrived and gaming became an occasional pastime for most of us.
Not for Rahul.
He simply found a way to fit everything in.
Studies Never Took a Back Seat
His interest in gaming never came at the expense of academics.
Rahul studied computer science at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani’s Goa campus, graduating from an institution known for its engineering and technology programmes. His education history publicly lists BITS Pilani Goa from 2013 to 2017.
That was perhaps the first moment when, as a cousin watching from the outside, I realised there was considerably more going on behind the gamer sitting in front of a computer screen.
He could spend hours playing games and still perform academically.
The balancing act would eventually become a defining feature of his life.
From Computer Science to Product Design
After college came another significant step: a career in technology and product design.
Rahul worked with Paytm and later with several technology companies and startups. Public profiles describe years of experience in product design, while a recent profile of India’s Asian Games League of Legends squad noted his involvement in the initial design work around Paytm’s card machine during 2017-18.
I remember him showing me frontend designs that were eventually launched at Paytm.
To me, it seemed like a pretty cool career.
Yet there was always another screen running somewhere in Rahul’s life: gaming.
Whenever I visited his home in Delhi, gaming trophies would catch my attention. There were enough of them to suggest that this was no longer simply someone relaxing after work.
Rahul continued building his professional career, worked with technology companies, became involved with startups and eventually pursued entrepreneurial projects of his own.
At one stage, he even became involved in opening a salon in Delhi to help a friend — the sort of unexpected detour that makes his résumé considerably less predictable than the average computer science graduate’s.
Through all of it, competitive gaming remained.
The 10-Minute Match That Changed My View
There was one incident that completely changed how I looked at Rahul’s gaming ability.
At the time, he regularly played titles such as Dota and League of Legends. I was more familiar with Age of Empires, so after hearing enough claims about his gaming abilities, I challenged him.
If he was really that good, I thought, let him prove it.
Rahul accepted.
He joined an online Age of Empires match at a high difficulty level.
I expected a long strategic battle.
Instead, roughly 10 minutes later, it was effectively over.
He had won.
I remember being both shocked and excited. Until then, I had considered him someone who simply played a lot of games.
That match made me realise there was a difference between playing games and understanding them competitively.
Rahul belonged in the second category.
‘Bob’ Emerges in Indian League of Legends
Over time, Rahul became known in competitive League of Legends by his in-game name, “Bob.”
Today, esports databases list Rahul “Bob” Bisht as an Indian League of Legends player serving in the support role for S8UL Esports.
S8UL’s League of Legends roster first secured the National Esports Championships 2026 title, which served as India’s official qualification route, before moving into the regional Asian Games qualifiers.
In Kuala Lumpur, India was drawn alongside Jordan, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka in Group B. The Esports Federation of India said the team finished the group stage unbeaten at 3-0, securing its place at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
The Indian lineup includes Sanindhya “Deadcorporal” Malik, Aakash “Infi” Shandilya, Akshaj “Kat Bot” Shenoy, Mihir “Lotus” Ranjan, Rahul “Bob” Bisht and substitute Ahmed “Nero” Shahid Israr.
For years I had assumed gaming championships meant trophies, bragging rights and perhaps some prize money.
Then came the news from Malaysia.
Rahul’s team had qualified for a major tournament in Japan.
I called him, congratulated him and, admittedly, did not ask too many questions.
Only later did the scale of what had happened sink in.
This was not simply another gaming championship in Japan.
It was the Asian Games.
Gaming Is Now a Medal Sport
The distinction matters.
Esports appeared as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games before becoming an official medal discipline at the Hangzhou Asian Games. The 2026 Asian Games programme includes 11 esports titles.
The 20th Asian Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya from September 19 to October 4, putting esports athletes inside the same continental multi-sport structure that hosts India’s competitors in athletics, shooting, badminton, hockey and other established disciplines.
For our family, that changes the perspective completely.
A boy who once sat at home experimenting with batteries and playing computer games is now representing India at one of Asia’s biggest sporting events.
One Man, Two Lives
Perhaps the most fascinating part of Rahul’s story is that gaming has never been his only identity.
Away from League of Legends, there is Rahul the computer science graduate, product designer, technology professional and entrepreneur.
Then there is “Bob.”
The computer switches on. The headset goes on. The League of Legends client opens.
And another part of his life begins.
A recent profile of India’s League of Legends squad described how several players continue to maintain demanding professional or academic careers while practising late into the night. Rahul said his training frequently has to take place after working hours — a reminder that India’s esports athletes are often balancing elite competition with conventional careers rather than living as full-time professional players.
That, for me, is what makes his journey particularly remarkable.
He did not have to choose between being academically serious, building a career and pursuing something he genuinely enjoyed.
Somehow, he kept all three going.
From ‘Just Games’ to Playing for India
Like many people from an earlier generation of gamers, I once looked at video games and wondered how far anyone could realistically go with them.
You could win a tournament, perhaps. You could collect trophies. Maybe there was some prize money.
But the Asian Games?
That seemed like an entirely different universe.
Rahul’s journey is evidence of how dramatically that universe has changed.
Competitive gaming has moved from bedrooms and college LAN parties to professional organisations, national championships and continental medal events.
And Rahul “Bob” Bisht has travelled with that transformation — from tinkering with batteries as a child, to studying computer science, designing technology products, building businesses and finally sitting behind a gaming PC with India beside his name.
I have watched that journey as his cousin, which perhaps makes the final destination even harder to believe.
The naughty kid is still there. The technology obsession never disappeared. Neither did the games.
The difference is that the game now comes with a national jersey.
And when Rahul “Bob” Bisht takes his place for India at Aichi-Nagoya, there will be at least one cousin watching with considerably more respect for computer games than he had a few years ago.
From Hot Wheels to League of Legends, it has been quite a ride.
Go champ. This time, the target is gold.
Writer is cousin of Mr. Rahul.
