India tops overall medal tally to lift Wilkinson Sword Trophy at Commonwealth Fencing C'ship
Lagos, Aug 13
The Indian fencing contingent created history by winning the overall championship title at the Commonwealth Fencing Championship 2026. Team India completed a spectacular four-day campaign with an unprecedented total of 35 medals-13 gold, 8 silver and 14 bronze across both U-23 and senior competitions.
The historic victory culminated with an overwhelming performance in the senior team competitions. Indian fencers asserted absolute supremacy across all disciplines, capturing five gold medals out of the six contested team events.
Team India secured top honours in men's sabre, women's sabre, men's epee, women's epee, and women's foil, alongside a hard-fought silver medal in men's foil. This remarkable final sweep cemented India's position at the top of the leaderboards and officially earned the country the prestigious Wilkinson Sword Trophy - awarded since 1982 by the Commonwealth Fencing Federation to the nation with the best overall results.
Team success capped off three previous days of exceptional individual performances in Lagos. The campaign kicked off on Day 1 with a massive 17-medal haul in the U-23 individual events (4 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze), featuring a complete podium sweep in men's sabre led by gold medallist Nikhil Wagh, alongside individual gold medals from Joys Ashita (women's foil), Prachi Lohan (women's epee), and Jeferlin (women's sabre).
On Day 2, Team India transitioned into senior individual action, collecting 7 medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze), headlined by a gold-silver finish from Tanishka Khatri and Khushi Dabhade in senior women's epee.
On Day 3, Indian fencers added 5 more medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) with dominant gold-medal runs from Kanaglakshmi (Senior Women's Foil), Rajendran Shanthimol Sherjin (Senior Men's Épée), and Singh Karan Singh (Senior Men's Sabre).
Behind the athletes' victory was a dedicated support system led by coaches Bharatji Thakor, Shrihari Pise, and Shankar Narayanan, physiotherapist Amruta Balkawade, and team manager Manu Tyagi, whose tactical guidance, physical conditioning, and event management proved essential throughout the four-day competition.
Expressing immense pride in the historic achievement, Rajeev Mehta, secretary general of the Fencing Association of India, stated, "I am incredibly proud of our entire contingent every single athlete, coach, and support staff member whose untiring dedication made this historic victory possible. Lifting the Commonwealth Overall Championship title for the very first time is a testament to the talent, discipline, and hard work within Indian fencing. This monumental achievement will serve as a massive boost of confidence for our fencers and will undoubtedly create strong positive momentum as we prepare for upcoming international tournaments and major global championships."
— IANS
Reader Comments
So proud of Tanishka Khatri and Khushi Dabhade for their gold-silver finish in women's epee! The women's team is really shining. This kind of success will inspire so many young girls to take up fencing. Great days ahead for Indian sports! 💪
Absolutely brilliant performance! A complete podium sweep in men's sabre led by Nikhil Wagh is no small feat. The coaching staff deserves huge credit for this tactical masterclass. Now the real challenge begins - maintaining this momentum at the world stage. But for today, let's celebrate this historic achievement! 🇮🇳
This is what happens when you give proper support to non-cricket sports! The fencing association's investment in coaching and infrastructure is clearly paying off. I just hope the government and sponsors take notice and provide even more support. These athletes are making India proud on the global stage! 🎉
Incredible achievement, no doubt. But I hope we don't get complacent - the Commonwealth doesn't include some of the strongest fencing nations. The real test will be at the Asian Games and World Championships. Still, winning 5 out of 6 team golds shows we have real depth. The Wilkinson Sword Trophy is a great morale booster for the entire squad.
So happy to see young athletes from smaller towns and cities making it big! This is exactly the kind of inspiration our youth needs. The support staff - coaches Bharatji Thakor, Shrihari Pise, physiotherapist Amruta, and others - deserve equal applause. This victory isn't just about medals, it's about building a culture of excellence in Indian fencing
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