India’s 20-member fencing team failed to impress at the Asian Games in Japan. Post Asian Games, FAI has told fencers to stop spending time making reels and focus on training and performance
India’s 20-member national fencing squad returned empty handed from the just concluded Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. After not-so-encouraging performance at the continental games, Fencing Association of India (FAI) raised a red flag, warning top fencers to focus on practice and restrict social media activities as it is impacting performance at major international competitions. “There is a growing concern that some players are spending too much time on social media and activities outside fencing, while the commitment required to compete at the highest international level is being compromised,” Rajiv Mehta, Secretary General, FAI stated on a social media platform.
It is learnt that the warning came after FAI found that several fencers competing at the Asian Games 2026, posted over a dozen reels on their personal social media accounts prior to their competitions in Japan and even during the Games.
The Indian fencers failed to win a single medal. The issue didn’t go down well with the federation. The FAI also said, a “star player” is not determined by social-media presence, popularity or personal claims. “A star player is created by performance and results,” Mehta said.
Mehta also expressed his disappointment with the recent results at the Asian Games and other international competitions. “We are not against your personal aspirations or social-media presence. But the priority should always remain clear. We must honestly ask ourselves where we are going wrong. The FAI feels that the primary focus of every athlete must be on training, performance, discipline and achieving results,” Mehta said in his note to the fencers on the social media platform.
The FAI is also clear that top fencers should compete at domestic ranking tournaments to prove themselves. “The FAI strongly recommends that all fencers participate seriously in the upcoming FAI Ranking Tournaments.
EOM
