Indian fencers continued their strong performance at the U-23 Commonwealth Fencing Championship in Lagos, Nigeria, securing seven additional medals on the second day. This haul included one gold, two silver, and four bronze, bringing India's total medal count to 24. Notable winners include Tanishka Khatri (gold in Women's Epee), Aakhari (silver in Women's Sabre), and Tejas Patil (bronze in Men's Foil).
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed confidence that Indian fencers will secure medals at the upcoming Asian Games and qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He emphasized the need to popularize fencing in India, highlighting its potential to capture the youth's imagination and its significant medal opportunities at the Olympics. Rijiju also commented on the government's non-interference policy regarding sports federations' internal affairs, specifically addressing the Manika Batra selection issue.
Indian fencing teams, including the women's sabre team led by Olympian CA Bhavani Devi and the men's epee team, delivered spirited performances at the 26th Asian Senior Fencing Championships in New Delhi but were unable to secure medals. South Korea claimed the women's sabre team title, while Kazakhstan won the men's epee team title.
A 24-member Indian fencing contingent, comprising 12 men and 12 women athletes, is set to compete in the Senior World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong. The team will participate across Epee, Foil, and Sabre disciplines in both individual and team formats, aiming to make a mark on the global stage.
Indian fencers Taniksha Khatri and Prachi Lohan have made history by becoming the first Indian women's epee players to qualify for the main table of 64 at the Senior World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong. They advanced through the preliminary rounds and will compete in the direct elimination draw on July 25, marking a significant milestone for Indian fencing.
The Indian fencing team achieved remarkable success on the third day of the Commonwealth Championship in Lagos, Nigeria, securing three gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in senior individual events. This impressive performance boosted India's overall medal tally to 29, including 8 gold, 7 silver, and 14 bronze, showcasing the nation's growing dominance in the sport.
South Korea, Japan, and China dominated the opening day of the Senior Asian Fencing Championships in New Delhi, securing all medals. Host nation India, despite fielding several fencers in both men's sabre and women's foil events, failed to secure any podium finishes, with their top performers placing 20th and 22nd respectively.
India's fencing contingent achieved remarkable success at the U-23 Commonwealth Fencing Championship in Lagos, Nigeria, securing a total of 17 medals, including four gold, four silver, and nine bronze. Indian fencers dominated both men's and women's individual events across Sabre, Foil, and Epee categories.
India's Prachi Lohan and Sachin achieved top-25 finishes at the Asian Senior Fencing Championships in New Delhi. Japan's Kyosuke Matsuyama won gold in men's foil, while Kazakhstan's Irina Bakaldina secured gold in women's epee, marking a historic first for her country.
Four Indian fencers tested positive for swine flu on their return from the Asian Junior and Cadet Championship in Singapore but are set to be discharged from hospital by Monday after getting treatment.
Japan's Masaru Yamada and Sano Yui clinched gold medals in men's epee and women's sabre respectively at the Senior Asian Fencing Championships. Hosts India, including Olympian C. A. Bhavani Devi, had a disappointing outing with fencers finishing in lower ranks across both events.
Bhavani Devi qualified for the Olympics through the Adjusted Official Ranking (AOR) method.
Indian fencers produced their best ever performance and clinched a total of 15 medals, including two gold, in the International Thailand Fencing Championship at Pattaya.
Left to themselves to find the resources to participate in next month's Asian Junior and Cadet Championships in Thailand, the Indian fencers finally managed to raise funds and will now take part in the event under Fencing Confederation of Asia (FCA) banner.
Despite not winning a medal at the recently-concluded Asian Senior Fencing Championships, India's men's foil team secured direct qualification for the upcoming Asian Games, marking a significant step forward for the sport in the country. The event, hosted in India for the first time, provided valuable experience and highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian fencers against top Asian nations.
South Korea and Japan secured gold medals in the men's sabre and women's foil team events, respectively, at the Asian Senior Fencing Championships. Indian teams, despite facing strong competition, demonstrated grit and finished 10th overall, showing promising developmental strides for the future of Indian fencing.
India's top fencer, Bhavani Devi, has issued an unconditional apology and appealed the two-month suspension she received after being shown a Black Card at the Asian Fencing Championships. The Fencing Association of India is supporting her appeal to the FIE, citing her clean disciplinary record and the upcoming World Championships.
India is set to host the 26th Asian Fencing Championships, which will also serve as a qualifier for the Asian Games. The Sports Ministry has sanctioned Rs 6 crore for the event, taking place at the Bharat Mandapam complex, featuring over 400 athletes from 30+ countries.
A new book, "Heroes: The Changemakers of Indian Sports" by journalist-author Thirumoy Banerjee, chronicles the inspiring journeys of 15 Indian athletes, including Manu Bhaker, C A Bhavani Devi, Nikhat Zareen, Aman Kumar Kadyan, and Sumit Antil. It highlights their determination, resilience, and triumphs over setbacks, offering insights into their paths to success and celebrating their unwavering spirit.
C A Bhavani Devi created history by securing India's first-ever medal in the women's sabre event at the Asian Fencing Championships
India is set to host the Asian Senior Fencing Championships for the first time from June 19-24 in New Delhi, featuring athletes from 34 countries, including Olympic medallists. The event is a direct qualifier for the Asian Games and offers ranking points for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with Indian Olympian Bhavani Devi leading the home challenge.
Woman fencer Rupaiya Devi, who had gone missing in Ireland earlier this week, has sought asylum in the United Kingdom.
The women's team of Taniksha Khatri, Jyotika Dutta, Ena Erora lost 25-45 against Korea to end their campaign.
CA Bhavani Devi, the first Indian fencer to participate at the Olympics, on Monday received her Arjuna Award from Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
Bhavani said she wanted to skip the qualifying tournament in March but her mother prodded her from hospital bed to compete in the event.
India's junior fencing team will not be able to participate in the Asian Junior and Cadet Championship scheduled to be held in Thailand under the national flag owing to IOC's ban on India.
India's leading fencer C A Bhavani Devi has found a rather interesting way to train amid the ongoing lockdown by s using her kitbag as target practice to be battle ready. The 26-year old trailblazer has given fencing an identity in India and has won laurels at the international level through her hard work and determination.
A second-round exit in her debut Olympics at Tokyo was a lesson for India's lone fencer Bhavani Devi, who said she would work on improving her technique to win medals for the country in the future.
India's first Olympian fencer Bhavani Devi bowed out of the World Championships after losing in the second round of senior women's individual sabre event in Cairo on Wednesday.
India's trailblazing fencer Bhavani Devi was off to a confident start on her Olympic debut, demolishing the challenge of Tunisia's Nadia Ben Azizi 15-3 to advance to the second round of the women's individual sabre event at the Tokyo Games, on Monday.
Bhavani Chadalavada Anandha Sundh Devi, India's first fencer at an Olympics, lasted two rounds at the Tokyo Games, but impressed before her historic maiden appearance ended in defeat to France's world No. 3 Manon Brunet in the women's individual sabre event, on Monday.
Bhavani Devi's impressive run at the Asian Games came to an end in the quarter-finals, suffering a 7-15 loss to local favourite Yaqi Shao.
Bhavani, who failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, said she didn't know how to pick and choose tournaments and so competed in all of them.
The Indian Olympic Association's athletes commission chairperson and boxing legend M C Mary Kom on Tuesday denied reports that she has resigned from her position.
'You always improve at each competition, the journey to arrive in the Olympics was not easy. I worked hard and I finally represented India at the Olympics, I have learnt a lot, I will definitely work harder to do better in the coming tournaments.'
From Neeraj Chopra to PV Sindhu, India's top sports personalities hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for hosting a successful G20 Summit and taking "international diplomacy to a whole new level".
Among the memorable gifts presented to Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, up for bids in an e-auction, are sporting memorabilia gifted by India's Tokyo Olympians.
With the IOA's return to the Olympic fold, Indian fencers will be able to represent the country after Fencing Association of India's (FAI) suspension has been revoked by the sport's international federation.
'Despite pandemic Govt is doing everything possible to support our athletes to make India proud'
India clinched 42 medals, including 27 gold, on the penultimate day of competitions to inch closer to 300-mark as they look set to finish on top spot for the 13th time on the trot in the South Asian Games, in Kathmandu, on Monday. India has topped every edition of the South Asian Games since its inception in 1984.
