Team India created history at the Commonwealth Fencing Championship 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, clinching the prestigious Wilkinson Sword Trophy with an unprecedented haul of 35 medals — 13 gold, 8 silver, and 14 bronze across both Under-23 and senior categories. It is the first time India has won the overall championship title at this event.

Dominant Team Finals Seal the Trophy

The decisive moment came in the senior team competitions, where Indian fencers captured five of the six available gold medals. India topped the podium in men's sabre, women's sabre, men's epee, women's epee, and women's foil, adding a silver in men's foil to complete an extraordinary final-day sweep. The Wilkinson Sword Trophy, awarded by the Commonwealth Fencing Federation since 1982 to the nation with the best overall results, was officially claimed by India on the strength of that performance.

Day-by-Day Breakdown of India's Campaign

India's four-day campaign in Lagos was built on consistent excellence across age groups and disciplines. On Day 1, the Under-23 contingent delivered a 17-medal haul (4 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze) in individual events, including a complete podium sweep in men's sabre led by gold medallist Nikhil Wagh. Individual gold medals also came from Joys Ashita (women's foil), Prachi Lohan (women's epee), and Jeferlin (women's sabre).

On Day 2, the senior individual programme yielded 7 medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze), headlined by a gold-silver finish from Tanishka Khatri and Khushi Dabhade in senior women's epee. Day 3 added 5 more medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), with dominant gold-medal performances from Kanaglakshmi (senior women's foil), Rajendran Shanthimol Sherjin (senior men's epee), and Singh Karan Singh (senior men's sabre).

The Support System Behind the Achievement

The medal rush was backed by a structured support setup. Coaches Bharatji Thakor, Shrihari Pise, and Shankar Narayanan handled tactical preparation, while physiotherapist Amruta Balkawade managed athlete conditioning and team manager Manu Tyagi oversaw logistics throughout the competition.

What Officials Said

Rajeev Mehta, secretary general of the Fencing Association of India, said: 'I am incredibly proud of our entire contingent — every single athlete, coach, and support staff member whose untiring dedication made this historic victory possible. Lifting the Commonwealth Overall Championship title for the very first time is a testament to the talent, discipline, and hard work within Indian fencing. This monumental achievement will serve as a massive boost of confidence for our fencers and will undoubtedly create strong positive momentum as we prepare for upcoming international tournaments and major global championships.'

What This Means for Indian Fencing

This is the most decorated performance by an Indian fencing team at any Commonwealth-level event, and the first time the country has lifted the Wilkinson Sword Trophy in the tournament's 44-year history. The result arrives as Indian fencing is building toward larger international targets, and officials expect the Lagos performance to accelerate athlete development pipelines and attract institutional support ahead of upcoming global championships.