India wins Commonwealth Fencing Championship for first time in Lagos
India clinched the Overall Championship Title at the Commonwealth Fencing Championship 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, on Wednesday, finishing the event with 35 medals — 13 gold, 8 silver and 14 bronze.
Across a four-day campaign at the championship, Indian fencers collected medals in both the U-23 and Senior categories and emerged as the best-performing nation, securing the Wilkinson Sword Trophy presented by the Commonwealth Fencing Federation since 1982 to the nation with the strongest overall results.
The tournament opened with strong returns in the U-23 Individual events on Day 1, where India amassed 17 medals — four gold, four silver and nine bronze; Nikhil Wagh led a clean sweep of the Men's Sabre podium, while Joys Ashita (Women's Foil), Prachi Lohan (Women's pe) and Jeferlin (Women's Sabre) each won individual gold.
Senior Individual events on Day 2 added seven more medals to India’s tally — one gold, two silver and four bronze — highlighted by the Women's pe final in which Tanishka Khatri finished first and Khushi Dabhade second, producing an Indian gold-silver combination.
Day 3 produced five medals for India, comprising three gold, one silver and one bronze; Kanaglakshmi captured the Senior Women's Foil title, Rajendran Shanthimol Sherjin won Senior Men's pe, and Singh Karan Singh secured gold in Senior Men's Sabre.
On the final day India dominated the six Senior Team events, winning gold in five — Men's Sabre, Women's Sabre, Men's pe, Women's pe and Women's Foil — while the men's foil team took silver.
The medal-winning campaign was supported by coaches Bharatji Thakor, Shrihari Pise and Shankar Narayanan, physiotherapist Amruta Balkawade and team manager Manu Tyagi, who the report says worked alongside the fencers overseeing preparation, tactical planning, recovery and logistical demands.
With the Wilkinson Sword Trophy now in Indian possession and a 35-medal haul across U-23 and Senior events, the Fencing Association of India will now look to build on the breakthrough performance by continuing to invest in training, athlete development and international exposure as India seeks to establish itself among the leading fencing nations.