New Delhi | 16 September 2026
India is set to field a historic 20-member fencing squad at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, marking the first time that 20 Indian fencers have qualified for the Asian Games across multiple fencing disciplines.
The Indian fencing contingent comprising 20 athletes, five coaches and one physiotherapist will depart for Japan today, 16 September 2026, to begin their Asian Games campaign.
The remaining team officials and delegates will join the contingent in Japan on 23 September 2026.
Indian Fencing Squad
Women’s Sabre
– C. A. Bhavani Devi
– Shreya Gupta
– Jeferlin J. S.
– Shruti Joshi
Women’s Epee
– Taniska Khatri
– Mitva Chaudhari
– Yashkeerat Kaur
– Anupriya*
Women’s Foil
– Joys Ashita
– N. Mina Devi
– Kanupriya Chawla
– Sonia Devi Waikom
Men’s Sabre
– Karan Singh
– K. P. Gishonidhi
– Lakshay Badser
– Vishal Thapar
Men’s Foil
– Sachin
– Sanasan Hemash Singh
– Adiya
– Tejas Patil
Anupriya will replace injured Epee fencer Prachi Lohan, subject to the required approvals from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS).
Coaching & Support Team
Coaches
– Vijay Kumar
– Gyanendra Kumar
– Mohit Ashwini
– Sagar Lagu
– Tukaram Mehatra
Physiotherapist
– Nikita Pandey
Team Officials
Team Leader:
Bharatji Thakor – Gujarat
Delegate:
Devendra Kumar Sahu – Odisha
OK Vineesh – Kerala
The team officials and delegates will join the Indian contingent in Japan on 23 September 2026.
Vision and Planning Behind India’s Historic Qualification
The qualification of 20 Indian fencers for the Asian Games represents an important milestone for Indian fencing and reflects the Association’s systematic approach towards athlete preparation, ranking, international exposure and high-performance planning.
The progress has been driven by the vision and planning of FAI Secretary General Shri Rajeev Mehta, whose continued focus on strengthening India’s international fencing programme has contributed to the expansion of India’s representation at the Asian Games.
With 20 athletes qualifying across Sabre, Épée and Foil, Indian fencing enters the Asian Games with a strong and competitive contingent. The Indian fencers will seek to deliver their best performances against Asia’s leading fencing nations and compete for podium finishes.
Leadership at Asian and International Level
Shri Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General of the Fencing Association of India (FAI), also serves as Secretary General of the Fencing Confederation of Asia (FCA). In his capacity as FCA Secretary General, he will also be present in Japan as part of the FCA delegation during the Asian Games.
FAI President Shri Satej Dnyandeo Patil is also planning to visit Japan during the Asian Games to support and encourage the Indian fencing contingent.
A New Milestone for Indian Fencing
For the first time, the Fencing Association of India is sending a comprehensive and large-scale Asian Games fencing contingent comprising:
20 Fencers | 5 Coaches | 1 Physiotherapist | Team Leader | Delegate
The departure of the athletes, coaches and physiotherapist today marks the beginning of India’s Asian Games fencing campaign.
The Indian fencing team will now focus on final preparations in Japan before taking on the best fencers from across Asia.
The Indian fencing fraternity wishes the entire contingent success at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and looks forward to a memorable performance on the Asian stage.