India secures 29 fencing medals in Lagos, including three gold on day three
India’s fencing team achieved significant success at the Commonwealth Fencing Championship 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, accumulating a total of 29 medals. This impressive haul includes 8 gold, 7 silver, and 14 bronze medals. On day three of the championship, the team added three gold medals to its tally, demonstrating strong performances across various categories.
The Indian contingent showcased dominance in the senior women’s foil, senior men’s epee, and senior men’s sabre events. In the senior women’s foil, Kanaglakshmi secured a gold medal, while her teammate Joys Ashitha earned a silver, ensuring India claimed the top two positions on the podium. England’s Georgia Green and Emily Goodchild each received bronze medals in this event.
Key Victories and Medalists
Another significant win for India came in the senior men’s sabre event, where Singh Karan Singh clinched a gold medal. He triumphed over Australia’s Shim Yoongi, who took home the silver. Additionally, Kumaresan Padma Gisho Nidhi contributed to India’s medal count by securing a bronze in the same event, sharing the podium with Nigeria’s Akinyosoye Oluwafolayemi.
On day two of the championship, Indian fencers continued their strong showing, adding seven medals to their collection. The women’s team performed exceptionally well in the senior women’s Epee event. Tanishka Khatri won a gold medal, and Khushi Dabhade secured a silver medal. Prachi Lohan also contributed to the medal tally by sharing a bronze medal with Australia’s Harrison Asley.
The women’s dominance extended to the sabre individual category on day two, where they secured three medals. Aakhari earned a silver medal, finishing behind England’s Brierley. Shruti Joshi and Jefarlin each claimed a bronze medal for India in this category.
In the senior men’s foil event, Tejas Patil earned a bronze medal, despite facing a field of experienced international fencers. Alex Tophalidas of Cyprus won the gold medal in this event, while Oliver Strange of England secured the silver. David William, also from England, received another bronze medal.
Khushi Dabhade’s Journey to Success
Khushi Dabhade, a fencer from Madhya Pradesh, earned a silver medal in the Women’s Epee Individual event. Khushi’s journey began at the state’s sports fencing academy, where she honed her skills. Her early training took place at Bhopal’s Tatya Tope stadium facility, and she currently trains under head coach Bhupendra Singh, with support from the Sports and Youth Welfare department.
Khushi’s father, Babarao Dabhade, and mother, Vidya Dabhade, a staff nurse, have been instrumental in supporting her sporting ambitions. Her father noted that the hard work she has invested over several years is now yielding results. He mentioned that his nephew, who also trained at the state academy, encouraged him to enrol Khushi there. The state academy and Coach Bhupendra Singh played a significant role in her development as a fencer.
Khushi’s silver medal in Nigeria marks a notable achievement in her career. She previously represented India at the Épée Women’s World Cup in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France, in 2026. Her competitive history also includes appearances at the FIE Epee Grand Prix in Cairo, the FIE Senior Epee World Cup in Kazan (2021), and the Senior Asian Fencing Championships in Seoul (2022).
On the domestic front, Khushi has consistently performed well, securing medals at the 30th and 32nd Senior National Fencing Championships. She also won a bronze medal in the Women’s Epee Team event at the 37th National Games in Goa (2023) and achieved a podium finish at the Khelo India University Games in the same year. Sports minister Vishvas Sarang congratulated Khushi on her silver win, highlighting that her success not only brings pride to the country but also inspires other aspiring athletes.
The championship is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, with the Indian contingent focusing on the final events across foil, epee, and sabre disciplines.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
