Odisha male para fencers secure five medals in Nigeria

Male para fencers from Odisha delivered exceptional results at the Commonwealth Para Fencing Championship 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria. These dedicated athletes brought home five medals for India, securing two golds, one silver, and two bronzes. Overall, the Indian contingent captured 12 medals, with Odisha contributing a total of seven medals across all events. Para fencing has grown rapidly in India recently, giving athletes vital international platforms to shine.

Foil Category Division Triumphs

V. Ramesh Rao claimed the gold medal in the Men’s Foil Category-A division. He topped the pool stage early in the tournament. During the quarter-final, he defeated Nigeria’s Oduneye Opeoluwa with a convincing 15-2 score. He then faced state teammate Pabitra Sahu in the semi-final, winning 15-12. To secure the championship, Ramesh beat India's Pinku 15-10.

Rakhal Kumar Sethi also performed strongly in this exact category. He defeated Praveen 15-10 during the quarter-finals. Sethi then lost a tight semi-final bout to Pinku 15-13, earning a well-deserved bronze medal. Pabitra Sahu grabbed another bronze for the state. Sahu beat Sandeep 15-9 in his quarter-final match before falling to Rao in the semi-finals.

Dominance in Category B

Om Prakash Behera finished first in the Men’s Foil Category B pool stage. This strong start allowed him to advance directly to the semi-finals, where he easily defeated Nigeria’s Owoyele Damilola 15-2. In the final match, he competed against fellow Odisha athlete Rudranarayan Behera. Om Prakash won the gold by a 15-5 margin.

Rudranarayan Behera took home the silver medal. Earlier in his semi-final bout, Rudranarayan beat Nigeria's Ajani Idowu 15-3. Out of India's 12 total medals, featuring six golds, four silvers, and two bronzes, Odisha athletes accounted for four golds, one silver, and two bronzes overall.