For Indian fencer Taniksha Khatri, the recently concluded Asian Fencing Championships in New Delhi represented much more than just another international competition. It was an opportunity to measure herself against some of Asia’s finest athletes, compete in front of a home crowd, and gain valuable lessons that could shape her journey towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 20-year-old epee fencer believes the experience has strengthened her confidence and reinforced her belief that an Olympic qualification berth is within reach. Having narrowly missed out on securing a place at the Paris Olympics last year, Taniksha is now fully focused on the next Olympic cycle, with the World Championships and the 2026 Asian Games serving as crucial milestones on her road to Los Angeles. The Asian Fencing Championships, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, marked a historic moment for Indian fencing as it was the first time the country hosted an event of such stature. While Taniksha did not finish on the podium individually, the strong showing by the Indian women’s epee team left her optimistic about the future.
“Although I did not bag a medal (at the Asian Championships), our girls’ team came very close to winning one. We missed it by a whisker. But the performance has given me confidence to fight at the top level. My immediate target is to do well in the upcoming Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya in September-October) and the World Championships (Hong Kong, July 22-30) and qualify for the LA Olympics. The Olympics is not very far away. Medals are not always everything. Qualifying and competing well at the top level does matter,” Taniksha stated in the media.
India’s women’s epee team impressed throughout the championship and came agonisingly close to securing a historic medal before falling short against Chinese Taipei in a tightly contested encounter. The performance nevertheless highlighted the steady rise of Indian fencing on the continental stage.
Taniksha has already established herself as one of India’s most promising fencing talents. A three-time Junior National champion and Commonwealth Junior Championships silver medallist, she created history at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou by registering India’s best-ever fencing performance at the event. Her run to the women’s epee quarterfinals demonstrated that Indian fencers are increasingly capable of competing with the continent’s elite.
Looking back at the Asian Championships, Taniksha emphasised the significance of hosting a major international fencing tournament in India. “It was great that, for the first time, an international fencing tournament was held in India. People are now more aware of the sport. It was also a valuable experience for all the Indian fencers. We got a lot of motivation from competing at home and experienced for the first time what it feels like to play a major international event in our own country. It was a very positive experience. We noticed our weaknesses and our strengths after every bout, and that will help us work on those areas going forward.”
The exposure gained from facing Olympic medallists, world champions and top-ranked Asian competitors is expected to play a significant role in India’s preparations for future events. With fencing gaining momentum across the country, athletes are increasingly benefiting from improved international exposure, training camps and support structures.
Taniksha believes the progress made by Indian fencing in recent years has been driven by greater support from the national federation and growing opportunities for international competition.
“I think every Indian athlete is preparing (to qualify for LA 2028). Our federation supports us a lot with competitions and training camps, which is why our performance is improving,” said Taniksha.
The Karnal-born fencer’s journey in the sport began at the age of 13. Interestingly, she started her career in the foil category before being switched to epee by her first coach, a decision that ultimately transformed her career. “The three events in fencing — epee, foil and sabre — have different target areas and techniques. I started my career with foil. My first coach switched me to epee from foil. He liked my playing style and decided that I could do better in epee. Now, I realise that his decision was very good,” she said.
Taniksha also acknowledged the contribution of Olympian Bhavani Devi, whose qualification for the Tokyo Olympics marked a breakthrough moment for Indian fencing and inspired a new generation of athletes. “We got a lot of opportunities because of Bhavani. A lot of people got to know about fencing. People are supporting us a lot.”
Her teammate Prachi Lohan echoed those sentiments, highlighting the impact Bhavani has had on young Indian fencers. “The sport has gained so much popularity. Bhavani didi’s qualification for the Olympics has really inspired the youth. She has put India on the global stage and made it clear that ‘yes, we can do it’. “So, that is something we take inspiration from. It (Olympic qualification) will surely be possible if we continue to train hard and attend training camps.”
Meanwhile, teammate Yashkeerat Kaur reflected on the narrow defeat that denied India a historic Asian Championship medal.
“Losing by one point to Chinese Taipei hurts; it’s very disheartening. But we learned so much by competing with talented players, Olympic medallists, world champions and Asian champions,” she emphasised.
There was further good news for Indian fencing as the men’s foil team secured direct qualification for the Asian Games after finishing among the top eight teams. Team member Tejas Manoj Patil expressed pride in the achievement and the progress being made by Indian fencers.
As India begins its preparations for the World Championships in Hong Kong and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Taniksha remains focused on the bigger picture. With valuable international experience behind her and the dream of representing India at the Los Angeles Olympics driving her forward, the young fencer believes the foundations are being laid for Indian fencing to reach unprecedented heights.
