STAIRS Foundation, India’s market leader in grassroots sports and youth development, announced the launch of STAIRS YUVA EA FC 2026 – Season 1, a pioneering national esports tournament setting a new standard for structured esports development in India. The five-month season (January–May 2026) introduces a governance-led, performance-based competitive pathway—reflecting STAIRS’ continuing role as a standard-setter across emerging and traditional sports.
Over the last two decades, STAIRS has built one of India’s most extensive youth sport ecosystems—spanning district-to-national pathways, institutional partnerships, and athlete-first frameworks. The launch of STAIRS YUVA EA FC 2026 marks another step in nurturing future esports talent through principles of elite sport: continuity, transparent rankings, and long-term athlete development.
The tournament will comprise two online qualifiers each month (10 in total), with athletes earning official ranking points after every qualifier toward a continuously updated national leaderboard. The offline playoff, held on the eve of the Finals in Delhi, will determine two additional finalists. The top eight competitors will contest a ₹1,00,000 prize pool and the title STAIRS YUVA EA FC Champion – Season 1, scheduled from January to May 2026.
The YUVA identity—Youth United Virtual Arena—encapsulates STAIRS’ philosophy: providing credible national platforms that unite talent, reward merit, and offer sustained visibility. The format is designed not as a one-off spectacle, but as a repeatable, season-based pathway aligned with international best practices.
In line with its governance-first approach, STAIRS has appointed Deeksha Sports Management (DSM) as Curation and Implementation Partner. DSM’s proven expertise will ensure athlete experience, uphold competitive integrity, and deliver operational excellence across all phases of the tournament.
DSM is led by Lokmanyu Chaturvedi, a distinguished figure in Indian EA FC esports who has represented the Indian eNational Team as both player and coach. His proven record in elite competition and talent development informed STAIRS’ decision to patronise DSM for this initiative—recognising not only past achievement, but future relevance in shaping India’s esports industry.
Siddhartha Upadhyay, Founder, STAIRS Foundation; recipient of the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar; and former Governing Council Member of the Sports Authority of India, said:
“STAIRS has consistently worked to build systems—not events—that serve youth over the long term. With STAIRS YUVA EA FC 2026 – Season 1, we extend this philosophy to esports by introducing a season-led, rankings-based structure that values consistency, integrity, and athlete growth. This initiative reflects our leadership in grassroots sport and youth development, and our confidence in esports as a credible, future-facing discipline when governed with the right intent.”
Lokmanyu Chaturvedi, Founder, Deeksha Sports Management, added:
“A rankings ecosystem sustained over a season is fundamental to serious competitive development. STAIRS’ vision enables athletes to evolve through repeated, high-quality competition rather than isolated outcomes. Being entrusted by STAIRS to curate and implement this platform is an opportunity to apply global standards to the Indian EA FC ecosystem and to create meaningful pathways for the next generation of esports athletes.”
With institutional stewardship, a transparent rankings architecture, and a season-based competitive design, STAIRS YUVA EA FC 2026 – Season 1 establishes a new national reference point for esports governance in India—reinforcing STAIRS’ position as a market leader in youth-centric sports development and a catalyst for responsibly integrating emerging disciplines into the national sporting fabric.
