New Delhi, June 18 -- The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has officially sanctioned financial grants under the Assistance to National Sports Federation Scheme to the Fencing Association of India towards the organisation of the 26th Senior Asian Fencing Championships, scheduled from June 19 to June 24, 2026.

The tournament also marks the historic first time that the world-class Bharat Mandapam complex at Pragati Maidan here will host a competitive sporting event since its inauguration in 2023.

Previously reserved strictly for high-profile diplomatic and political summits like the G20, Bharat Mandapam's transition into a sports arena represents a definitive turning point for Indian indoor sports infrastructure.

The mega-venue has be...