India to host Asian Fencing Cup between June 19 and 24 in New Delhi
India will host the Asian Senior Fencing Championship for the first time when the continental tournament is held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from June 19 to 24.
Widely recognized as fencing’s ‘Asia Cup’, the annual championship is considered the most prestigious competition in the Asia-Oceania region and will bring some of the world’s best athletes to India.
This year’s event has added significance as it will serve as a direct qualifying event for the upcoming Asian Games, as well as offering ranking points that shape the international rankings and path to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.
Alongside the competition, New Delhi will also host the 39th General Assembly of the Fencing Confederation of Asia (FCA), marking the first time that India will host an administrative summit of the governing body.
Ahead of the event, FCA and Indian Fencing Association general secretary Rajeev Mehta said the championship could become a defining moment for the growth of the sport in the country.
“Hosting the Senior Asian Fencing Championships for the first time is a watershed moment that will permanently redefine the trajectory of Indian sport. We are not only welcoming the world’s elite to Delhi; we are setting the course for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle right here at home.”
“I am also delighted to welcome the delegates to the 39th FCA General Assembly, which is also being held in India for the first time. Our athletes have already shown that they can compete and win medals at the continental level and this tournament offers them invaluable exposure at home.”
“By introducing technologies like the AI Video Referral System, India is also taking a leading role in modernizing the sport. We believe this event can inspire a new generation of fencers in the country.”
The championship will feature some of the sport’s biggest names, including Olympic champions Cheung Ka Long of Hong Kong, Oh Sang-uk of South Korea and Japan’s Yamada Masaru.
India will field 24 full-strength fencers led by Olympian Bhavani Devi, who became the country’s first ever fencer to qualify for the Olympics and win India’s first medal at the 2023 Asian Championships.
She will be joined by saber fencer Karan Singh, a silver medalist in the Asian Olympic qualifiers, along with Tanishka Khatri and Gisho Nidhi.
Fencing is an Olympic combat sport in which athletes score touches using electronically monitored blades. The competition will feature 12 medal events across individual and team categories in foil, pe and saber for both men and women.
The tournament will also serve as a testing ground for an AI-powered video recommendation system after the Indian Fencing Association recently held a workshop on the technology ahead of the event.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
June 16, 2026 11:09 AM IST