Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 18: Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse on Thursday reviewed preparations for the Asian Senior Fencing Championships 2026, which will begin in New Delhi on Friday.

Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will attend the opening ceremony, themed “One Dream, One Blade, One Pride”, celebrating the spirit of fencing, sporting excellence and international unity.

During her visit, Khadse inspected the competition infrastructure, athlete facilities and technology-enabled officiating systems. She also reviewed the advanced sports technologies and world-class infrastructure being deployed for the championship.

Addressing officials, Khadse said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is rapidly emerging as a global sporting nation. She said the Asian Senior Fencing Championships 2026 reflect this vision and highlight the country's growing capabilities in hosting major international sporting events.

The minister noted that competitions of such scale provide valuable exposure to athletes, promote sporting excellence and contribute significantly to the development of a vibrant and future-ready sports ecosystem.

She further said that hosting international tournaments strengthens India's position as a preferred destination for global sporting events while creating opportunities for Indian athletes to compete alongside some of the world's best fencers.

Khadse also appreciated the efforts of the Fencing Association of India, technical officials and other stakeholders involved in organising the championship.

The 2026 edition marks a historic milestone as India hosts the prestigious continental fencing championship for the first time. The event will see participation from 36 countries, with a total of 787 accredited delegates, including athletes, coaches, officials and support staff.