India Names 20-Member Fencing Squad for Asian Games, Bhavani Devi to Lead Charge

India will enter the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya with a strong 20-member fencing contingent, led by Olympian C.A. Bhavani Devi, as the country looks to build on a series of encouraging performances on the international stage.

The Fencing Association of India (FAI) announced the squad on Sunday after considering national rankings and performances in major international competitions during 2026. The selection has brought together a mix of experienced campaigners, Commonwealth medallists and promising young fencers.

The selected athletes will assemble at the Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala for a 15-day national preparatory camp from September 1 to 15. The team is scheduled to leave for Aichi-Nagoya on September 16, giving the fencers additional time to acclimatise before the Asian Games competition.

The selection committee assessed performances at key events, including the Asian Senior Fencing Championships, World Fencing Championships and Commonwealth Fencing Championships.

Bhavani Devi's inclusion is among the biggest positives for India, particularly in women's sabre. One of the country's most prominent fencing athletes and India's first fencer to compete at the Olympics, Bhavani has returned to international competition after a two-month break from the sport. Her experience at the highest level is expected to add stability and confidence to India's sabre challenge.

India's recent success at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships has also raised expectations around the contingent.

In women's epee, Taniksha Khatri and Prachi Lohan will be among the athletes to watch after producing medal-winning performances at the Commonwealth Championships. Taniksha won gold, while Prachi secured bronze, giving India considerable momentum in the discipline.

Karan Singh Gurjar will spearhead the men's sabre challenge after his gold-medal performance at the Commonwealth Championships. His recent form could prove valuable as India takes on some of Asia's strongest fencing nations.

Another notable selection is Tejas Manoj Patil in men's foil. Patil created history at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships by winning a bronze medal, becoming the first Indian fencer to claim a senior foil medal at the event. His breakthrough performance has added another promising name to India's growing pool of international-level fencers.

The 20-member squad features four athletes in each of the five categories — men's foil, women's foil, women's epee, men's sabre and women's sabre.

India's Asian Games fencing squad:

Men's Foil: Sachin, Sanasam Hemash Singh, Aditya and Tejas Manoj Patil

Women's Foil: Joys Ashitha Stalinraj, Naorem Mina Devi, Kanupriya Chawla and Sonia Devi Waikhom

Women's Epee: Taniksha Khatri, Prachi Lohan, Mitva Chaudhari and Yashkeerat Kaur Hayer

Men's Sabre: Karan Singh, Gisho Nidhi K.P., Lakshay Badser and Vishal Thapar

Women's Sabre: Bhavani Devi C.A., Shreya Gupta, Jefarlin J.S. and Shruti Joshi

FAI Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said the squad reflects the depth and progress of Indian fencing, with athletes entering the Asian Games after strong international campaigns.

He said the combination of Bhavani Devi's experience and the recent breakthrough performances of Tejas Patil, Taniksha Khatri, Prachi Lohan and Karan Singh Gurjar makes the contingent one of India's most competitive fencing teams in recent years.

Mehta added that the Patiala camp would focus on refining technical skills, improving tactical endurance and developing team chemistry ahead of the team's departure for Japan.

The FAI has also credited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) for their continued support towards the national fencing programme and the team's Asian Games preparations.

India's fencing programme has shown signs of steady progress in recent years, with athletes increasingly making their presence felt at major international competitions. The Asian Games will provide an even bigger test, with the continent traditionally producing some of the world's strongest fencing nations.

With an experienced Olympian leading the women's sabre team, Commonwealth champions and medallists across disciplines, and emerging athletes gaining confidence on the international circuit, India will be hoping to turn its recent momentum into medals in Aichi-Nagoya.