Blades of Glory: 8th ISSO National Fencing Championship Wraps Up in Faridabad
44 schools competed in the 8th ISSO National Fencing Championship at Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad. Check out the winners across all categories.
The ISSO National Fencing Championship has concluded with a spectacular display of skill and agility at the Shiv Nadar School in Faridabad. The 8th edition of this premier two-day national event brought together young athletes from 44 prestigious schools across India, all vying for glory in one of the world's most disciplined sports.
The tournament featured intense competition across three distinct disciplines—Sabre, Foil, and Epee—catering to Under-14 (Sub-Junior), Under-17 (Cadet), and Under-19 age categories for both boys and girls. The event was a masterclass in tactical precision and athletic speed, providing a vital platform for emerging school-level fencers to showcase their talent.
Leadership Praises Youth Talent
Aakanksha Thapak, Director of the International Schools Sports Organisation (ISSO), expressed her pride in the participants, noting that the involvement of 44 leading international schools signals a growing passion for fencing in India. She highlighted that the mental agility and technical mastery displayed by the students are a testament to the quality of talent within the school system, reaffirming ISSO's commitment to creating world-class platforms for student-athletes.
Adding to the praise, Satish Mishra, National Coordinator of ISSO, commended the host institution, Shiv Nadar School, for the flawless execution of a complex event involving multiple weapon categories. He noted that the spirit of sportsmanship displayed over the two days has set a high benchmark for future national events.
The Champions' Circle: Category-Wise Winners
The championship saw a wide array of winners from various institutions, with Shiv Nadar School making a strong mark on home soil.
Under-14 (Sub-Junior) Category
- Girls:
- Epee: Goel Anika (Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad) - 1st Place
- Foil: Kunwar Anaya (Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad) - 1st Place
- Sabre: Chand Avni (PSG - Clifton International School) - 1st Place
- Boys:
- Epee: Banerjee Advay (The American International School of Muscat) - 1st Place
- Foil: Sacchitanand Uttekar Kavish (Bharati Vidyapeeth Rabindranath Tagore School of Excellence) - 1st Place
- Sabre: Pankaj Gurbani Naitik (JBCN International School, Mulund) - 1st Place
Under-17 (Cadet) Category
- Girls:
- Epee: Shetkar Sragvi Sudhir (Fravashi International Academy) - 1st Place
- Foil: Juvvadi Aanika (International School of Hyderabad) - 1st Place
- Sabre: Lamba Ruheen (Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad) - 1st Place
- Boys:
- Epee: P Sathe Anant (Indus International School, Pune) - 1st Place
- Foil: Abhijit Pawar Anubhava (CP Goenka International School, Pune) - 1st Place
- Sabre: Raveshia Ryan (Podar International School IB & Cambridge, Santacruz) - 1st Place
Under-19 Category
- Girls:
- Epee: Gupta Naisha (Step By Step School) - 1st Place
- Foil: Kunwar Ameya (Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad) - 1st Place
- Sabre: Aggarwal Tashna (Shiv Nadar School, Noida) - 1st Place
- Boys:
- Epee: Kiran Patil Nischal (JBCN International School, Mulund) - 1st Place
- Foil: Chauhan Utkarsh (Amity Global School, Gurgaon) - 1st Place
- Sabre: Anwaar Hussian Syed (D.Y. Patil International School, Nerul) - 1st Place
Closing Ceremony and Honors
The event culminated in a celebratory closing ceremony where the hard work of the athletes was recognized. Individual podium finishers and team champions were awarded medals and certificates, marking the end of a high-octane competition that blended athletic rigor with the grace of fencing.