“Fencers will like to follow in the footsteps of Bhavani" - Uday Dongare on National Games 

The five-day fencing competition at the 2023 National Games will start from Thursday at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee multiple Indoor Stadium, Taleigaon.

Preparations are at full swing at the venue. Multiple indoor halls for badminton and fencing were put in place at the venue.

The fencing competition will witness elite fencers both in individual and team events. Uday Dongare, Director of Competition of Fencing said:

“Top eight teams and top 12 individual fencers in each of the three categories---saber, epee and foil--of the national fencing championship are eligible to compete in the National Games."

No doubt Tokyo Olympian Bhavani Devi will be main attraction in fencing, but there are half-a-dozen fencers who have made rapid progress in the recent past. This also includes, Karan Singh whose aim is to win berth for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

International fencers competing here at the National Games in Goa said Dongare, will certainly act as a role model for promising athletes.

“I’m sure budding fencers will like to follow in the footsteps of Bhavani,” Dongare added.

Competition at the Goa edition of the National Games was to feature 43 disciplines. But beach, indoor volleyball and Handball were scrapped last week. This all comes on the heels of infighting between the officials and functioning of two national federations.

The ad-hoc panel overseeing day to day functioning of the volleyball in India failed to conduct the national championships. It resulted in the discipline being scrapped as top eight teams of the national championship are eligible to compete at the National Games.

“It is a big setback to the players, particularly the women’s section. The National Games certificate is very helpful in getting a job in the government as well in the private sector,” a senior official associated with volleyball said.

Competition in badminton is over, while contest in weightlifting started today. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, and the multi-discipline event will conclude on November 9.