Lagos, August 13: The Indian fencing team has made history by winning the overall championship title at the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championship. Over four days of competition, Team India secured a remarkable total of 35 medals, comprising 13 gold, 8 silver, and 14 bronze across both Under-23 and senior categories.
This historic victory was marked by outstanding performances in senior team events. Indian fencers dominated all events, winning gold medals in five out of six team competitions. The team excelled in men’s sabre, women’s sabre, men’s épée, women’s épée, and women’s foil, while also securing a silver medal in men’s foil after a tough contest. This impressive performance solidified India’s top position on the leaderboard, allowing them to claim the prestigious Wilkinson Sword Trophy, awarded since 1982 to the country with the best overall results by the Commonwealth Fencing Federation.
The team’s success came after three days of exceptional individual performances in Lagos. The campaign kicked off with 17 medals (4 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze) in the Under-23 individual events on the first day. Nikhil Wagh led the men’s sabre category, where India swept the podium. Additionally, gold medals were won by Joyce Ashita (women’s foil), Prachi Lohan (women’s épée), and Jeferlin (women’s sabre).
On the second day, Team India participated in senior individual events, earning 7 medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze). The highlight was the gold-silver finish by Tanishka Khatri and Khushi Dabhade in the senior women’s épée.
On the third day, Indian fencers added 5 more medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) to their tally. Kanagalakshmi (senior women’s foil), Rajendran Shantimoli Sherjin (senior men’s épée), and Singh Karan Singh (senior men’s sabre) all won gold medals in their respective events. Behind this success was a dedicated support system led by coaches Bharatji Thakor, Shrihari Pise, and Shankar Narayanan, along with physiotherapist Amrita Balkawade and team manager Manu Tyagi. Their strategic advice, physical conditioning, and event management played a crucial role throughout the four-day competition.
Expressing pride in this historic achievement, Rajiv Mehta, Secretary General of the Fencing Association of India, stated, “I am immensely proud of my entire team—every player, coach, and support staff member—whose hard work made this historic win possible. Winning the Commonwealth overall championship title for the first time is a testament to the talent, discipline, and hard work present in Indian fencing. This significant achievement will boost our fencers’ confidence and certainly help create a strong and positive environment for upcoming international tournaments and major global championships.”
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