India's 24-member fencing squad flies to Hong Kong for Senior World Championships 2026
Synopsis
India sends its largest fencing contingent to the Senior World Championships in Hong Kong — but its biggest name is missing. Olympian CA Bhavani Devi sits out under an FIE suspension for a Black Card at the Asian Championships, leaving 24 lesser-known athletes to carry the flag across all three disciplines at AsiaWorld-Expo from 22 to 30 July.
Key Takeaways
A 24-member Indian fencing team — 12 men, 12 women — departed for Hong Kong on Monday night for the Senior World Fencing Championships 2026 .
The championships run from 22 to 30 July 2026 at AsiaWorld-Expo , covering Épée, Foil, and Sabre in individual and team formats.
Olympian CA Bhavani Devi is absent, serving an FIE suspension after receiving a Black Card at the Asian Fencing Championships 2026 in New Delhi.
The squad is supported by five national coaches and two physiotherapists .
Fencing Association of India Secretary-General Rajeev Mehta wished the team well, calling the event 'a major milestone for Indian fencing.' Live coverage is available on FencingTV.com and the FIE Fencing Channel on YouTube.
A 24-member Indian fencing contingent departed on Monday night for Hong Kong to compete in the Senior World Fencing Championships 2026, scheduled from 22 July to 30 July 2026 at the AsiaWorld-Expo venue. The nine-day flagship event is the sport's premier global stage, and India will field athletes across all three disciplines — Épée, Foil, and Sabre — in both individual and team formats.
Squad Composition and Support Staff
The contingent comprises 12 men and 12 women athletes, backed by five national coaches and two physiotherapists. Notably absent is CA Bhavani Devi, India's most experienced fencer and the country's sole Olympic-qualified blade in recent years. Bhavani Devi is currently serving a suspension handed down by the sport's global governing body, the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), after receiving a Black Card for her conduct during the Team Event at the Asian Fencing Championships 2026, held in New Delhi.
Despite her absence, the squad departed in high spirits, with team management expressing confidence in the depth of talent assembled.
What the Federation Said
Rajeev Mehta, Secretary-General of the Fencing Association of India (FAI), extended his best wishes to the departing athletes. 'This World Championship represents a major milestone for Indian fencing as we test our strength against the very best in the world. Our athletes across Épée, Foil, and Sabre have put in intense preparation and shown remarkable grit throughout the national and international season. We have immense belief in this contingent's ability to compete with fearlessness, push boundaries, and bring pride to the nation in Hong Kong. I wish them good luck,' he said.
Full Indian Squad
Épée (Women): Taniksha Khatri, Prachi Lohan, Yashkeerat Kaur Hayer, Mitva Jesangbhai Chaudhari
Épée (Men): Sherjin Rajendran Shanthimol, Joseph Bennet, Siva Magesh Sathasivan Nirmala, Shaurya Ashwini
Foil (Women): Joys Ashitha Stalinraj, Mina Devi Naorem, Kanupriya Chawla, Sonia Devi Waikhom
Foil (Men): Sachin, Hemash Singh Sanasam, Aditya, Tejas Manoj Patil
Sabre (Women): Shreya Gupta, Jefarlin Jani Rexlin Simla, Shruti Joshi, Aakhri
Sabre (Men): Karan Singh, Gisho Nidhi Kumaresan Padma, Lakshay Badser, Vishal Thapar
Day-Wise Schedule at AsiaWorld-Expo
22 July: Qualifications — Men's Foil & Women's Épée
23 July: Qualifications — Men's Épée & Women's Sabre
24 July: Qualifications — Men's Sabre & Women's Foil
25 July: Individual Finals — Men's Foil & Women's Épée
26 July: Individual Finals — Men's Épée & Women's Sabre
27 July: Individual Finals — Men's Sabre & Women's Foil
28 July: Team Events — Men's Foil & Women's Épée
29 July: Team Events — Men's Épée & Women's Sabre
30 July: Team Events — Men's Sabre & Women's Foil
How to Watch from India
Indian fans can follow all bouts live on the official FIE streaming platform at FencingTV.com or via the FIE Fencing Channel on YouTube, which will carry live feeds, replays, and highlights. Real-time scores, pool draws, and live bracket updates are available at Fencing Time Live.
With qualification cycles for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, performances in Hong Kong will carry added weight for India's fencing programme.
Point of View
But depth without results rarely moves the needle on funding or public interest. The FIE Black Card suspension also raises a governance question the Fencing Association of India has not addressed publicly — what conduct protocols are in place for high-stakes team events? Hong Kong will be a useful audit of where the next generation genuinely stands, but without Bhavani Devi's profile, even a strong performance risks going unnoticed.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Senior World Fencing Championships 2026?
The Senior World Fencing Championships 2026 takes place from 22 to 30 July 2026 at the AsiaWorld-Expo venue in Hong Kong. The nine-day event covers all three fencing disciplines — Épée, Foil, and Sabre — in both individual and team formats.
Why is CA Bhavani Devi not part of the Indian fencing squad?
CA Bhavani Devi is serving a suspension imposed by the FIE, fencing's global governing body, after she was shown a Black Card for her conduct during the Team Event at the Asian Fencing Championships 2026 held in New Delhi. The suspension has ruled her out of the World Championships.
How many athletes is India sending to the 2026 World Fencing Championships?
India is fielding a 24-member contingent — 12 men and 12 women — supported by five national coaches and two physiotherapists. Athletes compete across Épée, Foil, and Sabre in individual and team events.
Where can fans in India watch the Senior World Fencing Championships 2026 live?
Fans can watch live on FencingTV.com, the official FIE streaming platform, or on the FIE Fencing Channel on YouTube, which will carry live feeds, replays, and highlights. Real-time scores and bracket updates are available on Fencing Time Live.
What is the schedule for India's events at the 2026 World Fencing Championships?
Qualifications run from 22 to 24 July, individual finals from 25 to 27 July, and team events from 28 to 30 July. Each day pairs one men's and one women's discipline, rotating across Foil, Épée, and Sabre.
