A 23-year-old gamer from Saikul in Manipur has emerged as one of the promising names in India’s esports scene through Krafton India’s Rising Star Programme. BGMI player Zalaikam (Zalaikam Haokip) has steadily built his presence in competitive gaming since beginning his journey in 2019. Inspired by leading esports figures such as Mortal, Athena and Dynamo, he moved from casual gaming to disciplined competitive play.
Zalaikam now represents Team Hope Esports as a Free Man, playing alongside teammates Lmin (IGL), Corry and ClutchGod (Assaulters). The team will soon compete in the UNIV Premiership Season 1, which marks a major step forward in his professional career. He credits Krafton India’s Rising Star Programme for helping him grow as both a player and gaming creator by providing technical resources, platform exposure and content guidance.
The growing interest in esports is also visible in places like Imphal, where young customers increasingly discuss gaming tournaments, esports careers and online content creators. Many local shopkeepers say the popularity of BGMI and streaming platforms has created a new youth culture around gaming in the city. With 10.7K Instagram followers and 57.5K YouTube subscribers, Zalaikam now hopes to join a top-tier esports team and inspire more youth from the Northeast to see gaming as a viable career. His journey also marks a shift in perception at home, where family and community support have grown following his recognition as a Rising Star.
