Kiren Rijiju backs India to win Asian Games fencing medal, eyes World Championships

New Delhi: Union Minister for Minority Affairs and former Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju hailed the hosting of the Asian Senior Fencing Championships in the national capital as a landmark moment for Indian sport, expressing confidence that the country is on course to emerge as a major force in fencing and could even stage the World Fencing Championships in the future.

Speaking on the sidelines of the continental event at Bharat Mandapam held last month, Rijiju said bringing the Asian Championships to India was a significant achievement, particularly with senior officials from the International Fencing Federation in attendance.

He praised the performance of the Indian contingent, noting that several fencers came agonisingly close to upsetting higher-ranked opponents.

"Many of our players narrowly missed victory by just one or two points, but they performed exceptionally well," Rijiju said, adding that the performances reflected the steady progress made by Indian fencing over the past few years.

Calling fencing one of the most exciting Olympic sports, Rijiju said the discipline has immense potential to attract young athletes in India. He pointed out that fencing offers 12 Olympic gold medals across its three disciplines—Foil, Épée and Sabre—and believes greater awareness will help the sport grow rapidly across the country.

Rijiju recalled that fencing received special attention during his tenure as Union Sports Minister and said the results of those efforts are now becoming visible.

Expressing optimism about India's future, he said he expects the country to win its first fencing medal at the next Asian Games. He added that India's young fencers possess tremendous enthusiasm and talent, but sustained exposure to world-class coaching and competition will be essential for them to succeed on the global stage.

Looking further ahead, Rijiju said India should aspire to host the World Fencing Championships, saying the successful organisation of the Asian Championships has demonstrated the country's capability to stage top international events.

He also expressed confidence that India could have between two and four fencers qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games if the current momentum in training and development continues.

Rijiju lauded Bharat Mandapam as a world-class sporting venue, saying the championship has created an excellent sporting atmosphere and reflects India's rapidly evolving sports culture. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for developing the state-of-the-art infrastructure, describing Bharat Mandapam as a symbol of India's growing ability to host marquee international sporting events.

Tags : Sports Minister, Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, Fencing, Bharat Mandapam