Taniksha Khatri became the first Indian to win gold at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships, clinching the Senior Women’s Épée title in Lagos, Nigeria.
The 22‑year‑old from Karnal, Haryana, defeated compatriot Khushi Dabhade 15‑7 in the final bout, marking a historic breakthrough for Indian fencing. Teammate Prachi Lohan shared the bronze medal with Australia’s Ashley Harrison, ensuring that three of the four podium spots went to India.
Khatri’s journey began in 2015 at a summer camp in Karnal, later transitioning from foil to épée under coach Mohit Ashwini’s guidance. She trained in France with former world champion Nathalie Moellhausen and gained institutional support as an officer in the Indian Navy.
Her career highlights include silver medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Junior Championships in London, a team silver at the Asian Junior Championships in Tashkent, and a quarter‑final finish at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou — the furthest progression by an Indian fencer at the continental level.
With this gold, Taniksha Khatri has firmly established herself as a trailblazer in Indian fencing, inspiring a new generation of athletes to aim for global success.
