ESFI blamed for India’s absence in Women’s CS2 at World Esports Championship 2025

International Esports Federation (IESF) has been conducting the World Esports Championships (WEC) annually, and each year, the Indian team has participated in both the men’s and women’s categories. The responsibility to host qualifiers and send the final roster and requirements to IESF lies with the Esports Federation of India (ESFI). However, this year, it was revealed that India will not be participating in the CS2 Women’s category.

Aastha "Crackshot" Nangia, who has represented the Indian women’s team at the WEC for the past two years, reached out to ESFI through its official Discord channel seeking clarity. Initially, an ESFI representative, Chauhan Ji, responded by saying that IESF had not provided any information regarding the women’s category, but that message was later deleted.

Subsequently, another ESFI representative stated that the titles India would be participating in had already been announced, but no explanation was given for the absence of the women’s category. Further attempts by Crackshot to get a response went unanswered.

Crackshot then reached out directly to IESF for clarification. IESF responded by stating that the claim made by ESFI, that IESF had not shared any information was inaccurate. According to IESF, it was ESFI that failed to submit a First Entry registration for the women’s category. They added that this was a decision made solely by ESFI, and as per IESF policy, they cannot intervene in such national-level decisions.

Participating in IESF for the past two years hasn't been easy. There’s been zero support from ESFI with no clarity, no communication, no accountability. They’ve been accused of many things over the years, and yet nothing changes. They operate without oversight, as if they’re untouchable. Whatever they choose to do, or not do, goes unchallenged.

And still, there is interest in the women’s CS community. Despite the silence, despite being constantly sidelined, players are still showing up, still trying. But if we don’t speak up now, there won’t be anything left to fight for. IESF is the only major opportunity for women to compete and when that door is closed, it leaves us with nothing.

Next year, I’ll compete in the general category if I have to. Because I refuse to sit out while we’re ignored into irrelevance.
Crackshot

Dust2 India reached out to ESFI seeking clarity over the matter but could not obtain a statement at the time of publication.