Patna: The indoor stadium in Rajgir echoed with cheers and clashing blades on Wednesday as Maharashtra and Haryana shared top honours in an electrifying Khelo India national fencing contest, highlighting the growing stature of the sport in India.
In the men’s team event, Maharashtra clinched gold after a hard-fought final against Haryana, prevailing 45-42, while Haryana took solace in the silver after their commanding win over Gujarat in the semi-finals.
The men’s foil event, however, saw Haryana reclaiming glory, defeating Manipur in a tightly contested final. Earlier, Haryana had dispatched Rajasthan, while Manipur edged Maharashtra by the narrowest of margins, 42-41, in the semis.
In the women’s sabre team event, Haryana stamped their authority, overpowering Manipur in the final, following convincing victories over Jammu & Kashmir and Karnataka in the semi-finals. The triumph underscored Haryana’s depth in the sport, with coach Narendra Singh crediting the disciplined training regimens at the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Patiala and Aurangabad for the team’s standout performance.
“We had prepared meticulously for all three events. Even though we couldn’t strike gold in every final, I’m proud that our sabre girls, AP boys, and foil team delivered such stellar results,” Singh said.
Haryana’s Khushboo, part of the victorious women’s sabre squad, echoed her coach’s sentiments. “Our coach pushed us beyond our limits and brought out the best in us. This medal belongs as much to him as to the team,” she said.
Maharashtra also demonstrated their mettle, particularly in the women’s foil team event where they struck gold, underlining their growing reputation in fencing. Coach Ajinkya Dhundhare lauded the tenacity of his team, largely comprising fencers from NCOE Aurangabad. “The competition, especially against Haryana, was intense. Our players showed tremendous composure and skill to emerge on top,” he noted.
The event, part of the Khelo India initiative to promote grassroots sports, was marked by sportsmanship and high-quality fencing, as Maharashtra and Haryana dominated the podium, with Gujarat, Manipur, and Karnataka also making their mark by securing bronze in various categories.
Results:
Men’s Team Event
- Gold: Maharashtra
- Silver: Haryana
- Bronze: Manipur, Gujarat
Men’s Foil Team Event
- Gold: Haryana
- Silver: Manipur
- Bronze: Maharashtra, Rajasthan
Women’s Sabre Team Event
- Gold: Haryana
- Silver: Manipur
- Bronze: Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir
