Asian Games 2026: Bhavani Devi, Shreya Gupta exit women's sabre pre-quarters
Synopsis
India's women's sabre fencers Bhavani Devi and Shreya Gupta both bowed out at the pre-quarterfinal stage of the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi. Bhavani, India's trailblazing Olympian, fell 15-5 to World Championships silver medallist Rao Xueyi, while Shreya lost 15-6 to Olympic silver medallist Jeon Ha-young — a brutal draw that signals just how far India must travel to challenge for Asian fencing medals.
Key Takeaways
Bhavani Devi and Shreya Gupta were eliminated in the individual women's sabre event at the Asian Games 2026 on 24 September in Aichi .
Bhavani lost 15-5 to China's Rao Xueyi , the 2026 World Championships silver medallist , in the pre-quarterfinals.
Shreya was defeated 15-6 by South Korea's Jeon Ha-young , the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist .
Bhavani survived a tough pool stage — absorbing three losses — before recovering with two wins and a 15-8 round-of-32 victory over Mongolia's Oulen Tugsjargal .
Bhavani is India's first Olympic fencer , having competed at Tokyo 2020 ; she returned to competition in 2026 after a two-month break.
India's fencing squad trained at Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports, Patiala from 1–15 September before departing for Aichi-Nagoya .
India's women's fencing campaign at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi closed without a medal on Thursday, 24 September, as both C. A. Bhavani Devi and Shreya Gupta were eliminated in the individual sabre event at the pre-quarterfinal stage. The result ends India's best realistic hope for fencing silverware at this edition of the Games.
Bhavani's Pool Stage and Comeback
Bhavani entered the competition under pressure, absorbing three defeats in the pool stage — losing 1-5 to South Korea's Jeongmi Kim, 4-5 to Iran's Najmeh Sazanjian, and 4-5 to Uzbekistan's Zaynab Dayibekova. Showing the resilience that has defined her career, she steadied herself with back-to-back wins — 5-4 over Kazakhstan's Aigerim Sarybay and 5-2 over Thailand's Arisara Somphao — to survive the pool stage.
Round of 32 Win, Then a Tough Draw
Bhavani extended her run with a commanding 15-8 victory over Mongolia's Oulen Tugsjargal in the round of 32. However, the pre-quarterfinals brought a daunting opponent: China's Rao Xueyi, the silver medallist at the 2026 World Championships. Rao delivered a dominant performance, defeating Bhavani 15-5 to seal the Indian's exit.
Shreya Gupta's Pre-Quarter Exit
Shreya also advanced to the round of 16 before facing South Korea's Jeon Ha-young — the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist — who eliminated the young Indian fencer 15-6. Both opponents who ended India's campaign are among the world's elite in the discipline, underlining the quality of competition at this level.
Bhavani's Historic Journey and Preparation
This Asian Games appearance carries added significance for Bhavani, who made history as India's first fencer to compete at the Olympics at Tokyo 2020. She had returned to international competition earlier in 2026 at the Asian Senior Fencing Championships following a two-month break from competitive action. Ahead of the Games, the Indian contingent underwent a national preparatory camp at the Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports in Patiala from 1 to 15 September, before travelling to Aichi-Nagoya on 16 September. Squad selection was handled by the Fencing Association of India's selection committee based on results at the Asian Senior Fencing Championships, World Fencing Championships, and Commonwealth Fencing Championships.
Road Ahead for Indian Fencing
While the exit is disappointing, both Bhavani and Shreya have demonstrated the capacity to compete deep into major international fields against top-ranked opponents. With Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, the focus for Indian fencing will now shift to building consistency at the highest level and earning Olympic qualification berths.
Point of View
But the metrics that matter — medals at Asiad level — have remained elusive. With LA 2028 qualifying cycles approaching, Indian fencing must confront whether camp-and-compete cycles are sufficient, or whether more sustained international exposure is needed to close this structural gap.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Bhavani Devi at the Asian Games 2026?
C. A. Bhavani Devi was eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals of the individual women's sabre event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi on 24 September. She lost 15-5 to China's Rao Xueyi, the silver medallist at the 2026 World Championships.
How did Shreya Gupta perform at the Asian Games 2026?
Shreya Gupta reached the round of 16 before being defeated 15-6 by South Korea's Jeon Ha-young, the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist, ending India's women's fencing campaign without a medal.
Why is Bhavani Devi significant in Indian sport?
Bhavani Devi is India's first fencer to compete at the Olympic Games, having represented the country at Tokyo 2020. Her continued participation at major international events, including this Asian Games, marks a historic run for Indian fencing.
How did Bhavani Devi prepare for the Asian Games 2026?
Bhavani and the Indian fencing squad underwent a national preparatory camp at the Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports in Patiala from 1 to 15 September 2026, before travelling to Aichi-Nagoya on 16 September for the event.
Who ended India's fencing campaign at the Asian Games 2026?
China's Rao Xueyi eliminated Bhavani Devi 15-5, while South Korea's Jeon Ha-young defeated Shreya Gupta 15-6. Both opponents are among the world's top-ranked sabre fencers, with major Olympic and World Championship medals to their names.
