U-23 Commonwealth Fencing C'ship: India dominate competition with historic 17 medal haul
Lagos, August 10
The Indian U-23 Fencing contingent delivered a landmark performance at the U-23 Commonwealth Fencing Championship, securing an impressive total of 17 medals across the Men's and Women's Individual events.
Demonstrating unprecedented depth and technical prowess, Team India captured 4 Gold, 4 Silver, and 9 Bronze medals, marking one of the nation's most successful campaigns on the international fencing circuit.
The national squad displayed absolute dominance across every discipline, ensuring at least one Indian fencer reached the podium in all six individual events spanning Sabre, Foil, and Epee categories.
The Men's Sabre competition saw an extraordinary podium sweep by Team India, led by Nikhil Wagh, who secured the Gold medal. Lakshay Badser took the Silver, while Ashwini Arya and Laishram Moramba shared the Bronze medals to complete the four-way victory, as per a press release from the Fencing Association of India.
In the Men's Foil and Epee categories, Indian athletes continued their strong momentum against tough international opposition. Tejas Patil captured Silver and Hemash Sanasam took Bronze in Men's Foil behind England's Oliver. Meanwhile, in Men's Epee, Lokesh Vemani brought home Silver, with Shaurya Ashwini and Godwin Anbkess earning Bronze medals alongside Gold winner Thompson of Nigeria.
India's women athletes were equally dominant, securing top honours in two out of three categories. Joys Ashita won Gold in Women's Foil ahead of teammate Kanaglakshmi, who earned Silver. In Women's Epee, Prachi Lohan clinched the Gold medal, supported by Nivedhya Nair and Anupriya, who both took Bronze. In Women's Sabre, Jeferlin claimed Gold and Aakhari earned Silver, while Shreya Gupta added a Bronze medal to round out the women's medal count.
Commending the contingent on their stellar performance, Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General of the Fencing Association of India, stated, "I extend my heartiest congratulations to all our medal winners, coaches, support staff, and families for their relentless dedication and contribution to India's remarkable performance. Our objective is to continue creating more opportunities for young Indian fencers to compete at the international level and prepare them for the senior circuit and major championships, and these achievements mark a vital step towards building a stronger, more competitive team for the future."
The Fencing Association of India reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing young talent as Indian fencing continues to establish itself as a formidable force in international competitions.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The women's team especially deserves so much appreciation. Gold in 2 out of 3 categories and strong performances across the board. This is how we build a sporting culture - starting young and giving them international exposure. Proud of our girls!
The Men's Sabre podium sweep was pure dominance! All four medals going to India is something special. Nikhil Wagh leading from the front. Great to see these young athletes getting recognition.
Honestly, I didn't even know India had such a strong fencing setup. 17 medals is a big statement. Just wish the mainstream media would cover these achievements as much as they cover cricket. These athletes train just as hard.
This is what happens when you invest in non-mainstream sports. The federation's focus on youth development is clearly paying off. Hope this momentum translates to the senior circuit and we see these names at the Olympics one day!
Impressive consistency from the Indian team across all six events. Joys Ashita and Prachi Lohan showing great leadership in the women's categories. 4 Golds is a strong indicator of the depth they've built. Well done!
Genuinely inspiring to see so
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