India emerge overall champions in Commonwealth Fencing

India have emerged as the overall champions at the Commonwealth Fencing Championship, returning with 35 medals from the event held in Lagos, Nigeria.

Indian fencers won 13 gold, eight silver and 14 bronze medals across the U-23 and senior competitions.

The senior Indian fencers claimed five gold medals in six events on the fourth day of the competition, securing honours in men’s sabre, women’s sabre, men’s épée, women’s épée and women’s foil, as well as a silver in men’s foil.

The performance also helped India win the Wilkinson Sword Trophy, awarded by the Commonwealth Fencing Federation to the country with the best overall results.

Rajeev Mehta, secretary-general, Fencing Association of India, said in a statement: “Lifting the Commonwealth Overall Championship title for the first time is a testament to the talent, discipline, and hard work within Indian fencing.”