First-year Rohan Shinde was six years old when he picked up a Wii Controller to play Mario Kart for the first time. Little did he know that he would go on to be a national champion and consistently rank among the top three Mario Kart players in the world.
Shinde was introduced to Mario Kart by his father, but then realized in eighth grade, during the COVID-19 pandemic, that his rankings suggested he could be a serious and competitive contender. After finding moderate success playing in his first tournament, Shinde continued racing and developing his skills until he was good enough to play in national competitions.
Shinde was recommended to play in tag tournaments online and played casual ones hosted by small YouTubers. Shinde’s competitive spirit led him to play in bigger tournaments and eventually on the national stage. However, Shinde was not always “naturally gifted” as one might expect.
“I wasn’t gifted in any way,” Shinde said. “I had to work a ton. When I first met my friends, I got beat so many times that I think I got annoyed and mad and I just kept pushing myself and pushing myself into who I am today.”
It took hard work and dedication for Shinde to get to the level he is; currently, he practices between one and three hours a day. To warm up, Shinde plays against a computer, then plays in online lobbies, sometimes playing “scrimmage” matches. Shinde assesses his gameplay to see where he can improve, and often asks friends who are pros to look over his play as well.
His efforts have paid off, made clear by his national champion title in 2023. This past year, Shinde placed second in nationals and is currently ranked number three in the world. Shinde will never forget the experience of winning his first national championship.
“When I crossed that finish line, I jumped out of my seat, started screaming in the entire house and ran outside, ecstatic,” Shinde said. “I think that one of the biggest joys is seeing all your hard work and all the sweat and hours you put into it pay off.”
While placing high in competitions initially put pressure on Shinde to perform, gaining more experience has given him new insight into managing the mental side of the competition.
“At first, I did feel a lot of pressure in these big final lobbies. Going to these last games, my hands were always shaking, I was everywhere in my thoughts,” Shinde said. “At first it is nerve-wracking, but once you have that experience of being in those lobbies, you learn what to do and you understand what’s the best way for you to calm your own nerves, which is the biggest thing I think for anyone who wants to learn.”
While Mario Kart tournaments are mainly played online, the community that it fosters is strong. Shinde met his two closest friends in high school through Mario Kart. One of the most rewarding parts of playing is the connections he gets to develop with those who share his love for the game.
“My favorite part about playing is actually inspiring other people to play. … I’m a role model people look up to sometimes,” Shinde said. “They ask for my advice, and it makes me feel good about what I’m doing. It doesn’t make me question, ‘Oh, is this the path or the right thing for me to be doing with my time?’”
While racing in Mario Kart is an individual pursuit, Shinde had the opportunity to form and play for his high school’s esports team, leading them to national victory.
“A lot of people say that esports is a waste of time. I truly believe if you love something, it’s not a waste of time because you can learn a lot from every single thing. Everyone has a different passion that is very specific to them,” Shinde said.
At Colgate, Shinde hopes to develop an active esports team, most likely during his sophomore year, as he is still adjusting to college life.
After placing second at this year’s National Championship, Shinde is currently training to reclaim the top spot. However, he does see an eventual stopping point in his future; with dreams to be a doctor, he views college graduation as a natural time to retire.
“I fell in love with medicine, and I also want to do something with technology because esports made me learn a lot more about technology and what this new future to come is like,” Shinde said. “I like to learn about new things a lot. I’m often pushed by the passion of learning and my love for it altogether that no matter what it is, I want to learn.”
While Shinde may have an endpoint in mind, his passion for the game and sharing it with the world is alive and strong.
“Don’t be afraid to share what you love regardless of what other people are going to say, because you know you’re in a world where you’re going to be judged regardless for whatever you do,” Shinde said. “Keep on doing what you’re doing and don’t be afraid to share what you love and why you love it.”
