Major Events in DELHI

The 36th Senior National Fencing Championship

  • 36th Senior National Fencing Championship:

    • Dates: November 15th – 19th, 2025.

    • Location: New Delhi (Indira Gandhi Stadium)

    • Details: For both Men and Women

    • Events: Epee, Foil and Sabre

The National Fencing Championship is India’s highest-level domestic fencing competition, organized every year by the Fencing Association of India (FAI).

The National Fencing Championship is an annual tournament where fencers from all Indian states and institutional teams (like Services, Railways, etc.) compete to become national champions.
It’s the top domestic event — like the “National Championships” in athletics or swimming — and decides the best fencers in India across all weapons and age groups.

  • Conducted by the Fencing Association of India (FAI) — the official governing body for fencing in the country.

  • Approved and supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

  • Each year, a different state fencing association hosts the event.

There are three weapons in fencing — and each has separate events for men and women:

  1. Épée

  2. Foil

  3. Sabre

Each weapon has:

  • Individual events

  • Team events

Purpose

  • To identify the best fencers in India.

  • To rank athletes nationally for selection in international competitions (like Asian Games, Commonwealth Fencing Championships, and World Cups).

  • To encourage fencing talent development at the state and district level.

Past Winners

  • Bhavani Devi (Tamil Nadu) – India’s first Olympic fencer and multiple-time national champion in Women’s Sabre.

  • Nidhi Gisho (Tamil Nadu) – 2025 National Games gold medalist in Men’s Sabre.

  • Tanishka Khatri (Haryana) – gold medalist in Women’s Épée.

36th Senior National Fencing Championship (2025)

  • Dates: 15–19 November 2025

  • Venue: New Delhi

  • Organized by: FAI & Delhi State Fencing Association

  • Participants: 25+ state teams + institutional units (Services, Railways, etc.)

  • Events: Men’s & Women’s Foil, Épée, Sabre — both individual and team categories

Fencing is a modern Olympic sport that involves combat with swords such as the foil, épée, and sabre. In India, fencing has been growing steadily over the past few decades, though it remains a developing sport compared to cricket, hockey, or badminton.

History and Development

  • Early Beginnings: Traditional Indian martial arts such as Kalaripayattu, Silambam, and Gatka involve sword-fighting techniques, but organized modern fencing (as per international rules) began in India during the 1970s.

  • Official Formation: The Fencing Association of India (FAI) was established in 1974 and is recognized by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the International Fencing Federation (FIE).

  • National Championships: The first National Fencing Championship was held in 1974–75, marking the formal start of competitive fencing in India.

  • Indian fencers have participated in various Asian Championships, Commonwealth Championships, and World Cup events.

  • Bhavani Devi made history as the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics (Tokyo 2020). She has won multiple medals at the Commonwealth and Asian levels and is the face of Indian fencing today.

  • Several young fencers from states like Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Punjab, and Kerala are emerging in national and international circuits.

  • Training and Infrastructure

    • Fencing training centers have been established under the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

    • National and state-level academies provide coaching, equipment, and exposure to international techniques.

    • The sport is increasingly promoted in schools, universities, and army institutions.

Future Fencing Players for India

The future of Indian fencing looks promising, with many young and talented fencers emerging from different states. Inspired by C.A. Bhavani Devi, India’s first Olympic fencer, several new athletes are training to represent the country at the international level.

Some rising names include Karan Singh, Tanu Sharma, Devanshi Singh, and Subhash Chandra, who have performed well in national and Asian-level tournaments. Many players from Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Punjab, and Kerala are also showing great potential due to better coaching and sports facilities.

With strong support from the Fencing Association of India and the Sports Authority of India, these young fencers are expected to bring more medals and global recognition to India in the future.

Future Prospects

With growing recognition, government support, and role models like Bhavani Devi, fencing in India is expected to expand. Better infrastructure, international exposure, and grassroots programs could make India competitive at the global level in the coming years.

The future of fencing in India looks bright and promising. With increasing awareness, government support, and international exposure, the sport is slowly gaining popularity. The success of athletes like C.A. Bhavani Devi, India’s first Olympic fencer, has inspired many young players to take up fencing.

The Fencing Association of India and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) are working to improve training facilities, coaching quality, and equipment across the country. More academies and competitions are being organized at the state and national levels, helping to discover new talent.

As fencing becomes more accessible in schools and universities, India is expected to produce stronger competitors for Asian, Commonwealth, and Olympic Games in the coming years. With continued investment and dedication, India’s fencing future holds great potential on the international stage

Goal of Indian Fencing

The main goal of Indian fencing is to develop and promote the sport across the country, helping athletes reach international standards and win medals for India. It aims to:

  1. Train skilled fencers through proper coaching and modern facilities.

  2. Encourage participation among youth in schools, colleges, and sports academies.

  3. Represent India successfully in international competitions like the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Olympics.

  4. Build awareness about fencing as a professional and respected sport in India.