{"id":59323,"date":"2026-01-12T19:22:56","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T13:52:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matribhumisamachar.com\/en\/?p=59323"},"modified":"2026-01-12T19:22:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T13:52:56","slug":"from-manipur-to-the-national-esports-spotlight-zalaikams-rise-through-krafton-indias-rising-star-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matribhumisamachar.com\/en\/2026\/01\/12\/from-manipur-to-the-national-esports-spotlight-zalaikams-rise-through-krafton-indias-rising-star-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"From Manipur to the National Esports Spotlight: Zalaikam\u2019s Rise Through Krafton India\u2019s Rising Star Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Manipur, January 2026<\/strong>\u00a0: Krafton India\u2019s Rising Star Programme continues to spotlight and nurture emerging esports talent from across the country, with Manipur-based BGMI player Zalaikam (Zalaikam Haokip) emerging as one of its most promising success stories.<\/p>\n

At just 23 years old, Zalaikam, hailing from Saikul, Manipur, has steadily carved a name for himself in India\u2019s competitive Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) ecosystem. Having started his gaming journey in 2019, Zalaikam\u2019s rise reflects both personal perseverance and the growing impact of structured talent development initiatives like the Rising Star Programme
\nby\u00a0Krafton India.<\/p>\n

Inspired by iconic creators such as Mortal, Athena and Dynamo, Zalaikam transitioned from a casual player to a focused competitor through consistent daily practice and disciplined gameplay. Currently representing Team Hope Esports, he plays the role of a Free Man, alongside teammates Lmin (IGL), Corry (Assaulter) and ClutchGod (Assaulter). The team is set to compete in the upcoming\u00a0UNIV Premiership Season 1, marking an important milestone in his competitive career.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on his journey, Zalaikam credits Krafton India\u2019s Rising Star Programme for playing a crucial role in his growth, both as a player and as a creator. Through the programme, Krafton has supported him with essential streaming resources, amplified his gameplay across official platforms, and provided guidance on audience engagement and content-building strategies.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing selected as a Rising Star felt like all the hard work of the past few years finally paid off,\u201d says Zalaikam.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThe support and recognition gave me confidence not just as a player, but as someone who can build a future in esports.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond professional development, the recognition has also helped shift perceptions closer to home. While initial family support was limited, receiving the Rising Star title marked a turning point, leading to growing encouragement from his parents and community.<\/p>\n

With a rapidly growing digital footprint over\u00a010.7K followers on Instagram\u00a0and\u00a057.5K subscribers on YouTube. Zalaikam is steadily building a loyal fan base. His long-term ambition extends beyond personal success: he hopes to join a top-tier (T1) esports team and inspire youth from his region to view gaming as a legitimate and sustainable career path.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy goal is to become a well-known esports player and uplift my community in the field of gaming,\u201d he adds<\/strong>. \u201cTalent exists everywhere, programmes like Rising Star help bring it to the forefront.\u201d<\/p>\n

Krafton India\u2019s Rising Star Programme continues to play a pivotal role in identifying, mentoring and empowering the next generation of Indian esports athletes, reinforcing the company\u2019s commitment to building a robust, inclusive and future-ready gaming ecosystem in the country.<\/p>\n

Featured Article<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Manipur, January 2026\u00a0: Krafton India\u2019s Rising Star Programme continues to spotlight and nurture emerging esports talent from across the country, with Manipur-based BGMI player Zalaikam (Zalaikam Haokip) emerging as one of its most promising success stories. At just 23 years old, Zalaikam, hailing from Saikul, Manipur, has steadily carved a name for himself in India\u2019s …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[127],"tags":[31748],"class_list":["post-59323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","","category-sports","tag-krafton-indias-rising-star-programme"],"yoast_head":"\nFrom Manipur to the National Esports Spotlight: Zalaikam\u2019s Rise Through Krafton India\u2019s Rising Star Programme - Matribhumi Samachar English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/matribhumisamachar.com\/en\/2026\/01\/12\/from-manipur-to-the-national-esports-spotlight-zalaikams-rise-through-krafton-indias-rising-star-programme\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From Manipur to the National Esports Spotlight: Zalaikam\u2019s Rise Through Krafton India\u2019s Rising Star Programme - Matribhumi Samachar English\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Manipur, January 2026\u00a0: Krafton India\u2019s Rising Star Programme continues to spotlight and nurture emerging esports talent from across the country, with Manipur-based BGMI player Zalaikam (Zalaikam Haokip) emerging as one of its most promising success stories. 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