LAGOS — Indian fencing reached a major milestone as Taniksha Khatri secured the nation’s first-ever gold medal in the Senior Women’s Épée event at the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Nigeria.
Taniksha Khatri in action on the stripThe 22-year-old athlete delivered a dominant performance throughout the tournament before defeating teammate Khushi Dabhade 15 to 7 in the final, placing India at the top of the podium.
All-Indian Podium Sweep
Khatri’s gold crowned a historic performance by the national squad, which swept all three medals in the Senior Women’s Épée discipline. Dabhade earned the silver medal, while Prachi Lohan captured bronze.
The clean sweep highlighted India’s growing competitiveness in international fencing, a sport gaining steadily wider participation among young athletes across the country.
Rising From Junior Ranks to Senior Titles
The victory marks the highest achievement yet in Khatri’s career. She previously earned silver medals at both the 2022 Commonwealth Junior Championships and the Asian Junior Championships.
She also delivered a standout performance at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, reaching the quarter-finals to post what was then India’s best individual finish at the event.
Despite the setback of missing qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Khatri continued competing internationally. Her breakthrough win in Lagos anchors a successful campaign for India at the 2026 championships, where the national team collected 35 total medals, including 13 golds.
