India topped the standings at the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Eko Atlantic City, while hosts Nigeria achieved a landmark fourth-place result.
Held over six days at Rugby School Nigeria, the event was the first senior international fencing championship staged in an African nation. Competitors representing 20 countries took part.
India led throughout the tournament, finishing with 25 gold medals, 20 silver and 18 bronze. Their campaign ended with a clean sweep on the final day by the wheelchair fencing team. England claimed second place on three golds, two silvers and nine bronzes. Wales moved into third ahead of Nigeria after a late win in the men’s veteran sabre, while South Africa rounded out the top five with five medals: one gold, three silver and one bronze.
Nigeria ended fourth with 24 medals, made up of one gold, five silver and 18 bronze. At 17, Oghenegaren Osievwa-Thompson became the first Nigerian to win an international fencing gold medal. The nation’s debut wheelchair fencing team supplied most of its silver and bronze medals. Adeyinka Samuel, president of the Nigeria Fencing Federation and the newly elected first African leader of the Commonwealth Fencing Federation, also won silver in the men’s veteran sabre.
At the closing ceremony, National Sports Commission Director General Bukola Olopade praised the organising committee, confirmed cash awards for Nigeria’s medallists and repeated the government’s pledge to support the sport’s continued growth.
