Nigeria win more medals at C’wealth Fencing Champs

Nigeria made history on home soil at the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships, hosted at Rugby School Nigeria in Lagos, by clinching nine medals and securing Africa’s first-ever international medals in wheelchair fencing. This achievement marks a significant breakthrough for para-fencing on the continent.

The championships also featured the first international wheelchair fencing event ever staged in Africa, with Nigeria leading the charge. In the women's epee category A, Itunu Kumuyi and Joy Iorguma earned bronze medals, as did the duo in the women's foil wheelchair event. Category B saw Joyce Otun and Abiola Rahamon also claim bronze medals, highlighting Nigeria's emerging strength in para-fencing.

“

You cannot imagine that we started training just three months ago, yet our athletes quickly became competitive against countries with years of international experience.

Chidinma Dennis added a silver medal to Nigeria's tally in the women's wheelchair category, narrowly losing to India's Sheranthi Thomas in the final. India, however, continued its dominance in the women's wheelchair events, securing gold and silver. In the men's senior sabre, Oluwafolayemi Akinyosoye captured his first international medal, a bronze, after a strong performance despite an early hand injury.

Tonye Sawari, Programme Director of Wheelchair Fencing in the Nigeria Fencing Federation, hailed the achievement as a remarkable beginning. "You cannot imagine that we started training just three months ago, yet our athletes quickly became competitive against countries with years of international experience," Sawari said. He expressed hope that this success will elevate the profile of wheelchair fencing in Nigeria and across Africa, commending the athletes for their spirited display.

“

This is a remarkable beginning, and we hope to build on this success to raise the profile of wheelchair fencing in Nigeria. I am proud of our athletes for making their presence felt in this tournament and commend them for their spirited display.