India is officially ready to make sporting history as the nation prepares to host the highly anticipated Asian Senior Fencing Championships 2026 in the national capital, scheduled to take place from June 19 to June 24 at the iconic Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This monumental event marks the first time India has ever hosted a continental-level fencing championship.
Widely recognised as the 'Asia Cup' of fencing, the tournament is the most prestigious annual competition in the Asia-Oceania region. This edition carries an unprecedented stakes layout, serving as a direct qualifier for the upcoming Asian Games, while offering vital ranking points that directly shape the global standings and competitive road to the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 cycle.
Alongside the championship, the capital will also anchor a historic milestone in sports administration, welcoming 42 delegates from the Member Countries for the 39th Fencing Confederation of Asia (FCA) General Assembly, which is being hosted in India for the very first time, scheduled on June 19, 2026.
"Hosting the Senior Asian Fencing Championships for the first time is a watershed moment that will permanently redefine the trajectory of Indian sports. We are not just welcoming the world's absolute elite to New Delhi; we are laying down the foundational path for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle right here on our home mat. I am equally thrilled and excited to host 42 delegate members from across our member countries to the 39th FCA General Assembly, which is being hosted for the first time in India," Rajeev Mehta, secretary general, Fencing Confederation of Asia (FCA) & Fencing Association of India (FAI) said.
"Our athletes have proven they can win medals at the continental level, and this tournament provides unprecedented exposure to world-class pressure under the eyes of their home fans. Furthermore, by introducing cutting-edge technologies like the AI Video Referral System, India is leading the global sporting landscape into a new tech-driven era. We are confident this event will inspire a generation and establish India as a premier destination for global fencing," he added.
The championship will feature world-ranked superstars and reigning Olympic gold medallists, offering Indian sports fans a rare glimpse of fencing at its highest level. Key international headliners locked in to compete include Cheung Ka Long of Hong Kong, the reigning, back-to-back gold medallist in Olympic Individual Foil; Oh Sang-uk of South Korea, the reigning Olympic Individual Sabre gold medallist and global fencing icon; and Yamada Masaru of Japan, the Olympic gold medallist and defensive powerhouse in Men's Épée.
A massive contingent of elite squads representing 34 powerhouse nations will face off in New Delhi.
Photo: Tricolor
Bratislava Castle lights up in Tricolour as Slovakia rolls out grand welcome for PM Modi (Photo: @MEAIndia/X)
Bratislava Castle lights up in Tricolour as Slovakia rolls out grand welcome for PM Modi
Bratislava, June 16 (IANS) In a spectacular gesture of warmth and diplomatic significance, the iconic Bratislava Castle was illuminated in the colours of the Indian national flag as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Slovak capital for the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since its independence in 1993
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the visual spectacle on the social media platform X, describing it as a "historic visit celebrated with a touch of history."
The image showed the imposing white castle, perched atop a hill overlooking the Danube River, bathed in saffron, white and green, a rare honour that the Slovak government extended as a mark of the deepening friendship between the two nations.
"A special gesture reflecting the warmth of India-Slovakia friendship," MEA Jaiswal wrote, capturing a moment that diplomats say reflects Bratislava's growing strategic interest in deepening ties with New Delhi.
The Bratislava Castle, where PM Modi held bilateral talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, is no ordinary venue. Its history, much like the India-Slovakia relationship, has witnessed decline, destruction and a determined revival.
Perched on a hill in the Little Carpathians, the castle offers sweeping views of Slovakia, Austria and even Hungary on a clear day. Its origins date back to 3500 BCE, when an acropolis stood on the site. By the 10th century, a stone fortress had been built, and in the 18th century, Empress Maria Theresa transformed it into a magnificent royal Baroque residence.
Today, it houses the Slovak National Museum and serves as the country's most prestigious venue for state functions.
The decision to host PM Modi at this historic site, and to bathe it in India's national colours, is being seen by diplomatic observers as a signal that Slovakia views its relationship with India not as a peripheral engagement but as a partnership with deep historical resonance and future potential.
PM Modi's arrival in Bratislava on Sunday marked a historic milestone: no Indian Prime Minister had set foot in Slovakia since the country became an independent nation on January 1, 1993, following the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
Behind the ceremonial welcome lies a relationship that has been quietly but steadily growing stronger. Bilateral trade crossed the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2024, reaching $1.3 billion. In 2025, it climbed further to $1.8 billion, with Indian exports of $1.52 billion against imports of $284 million.
The Indian diaspora in Slovakia has also grown to approximately 11,000, making it the second-largest expatriate community in the country after Ukrainians. Roughly 500 Indian students are enrolled at universities in Bratislava, Kosice and Nitra, pursuing medicine, engineering and business.
While the illuminated castle and ceremonial welcome made for stunning visuals, diplomatic observers note that PM Modi's visit carries substantial strategic weight.
The two nations have elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership, signed a Letter of Intent on Defence Cooperation, and agreed on a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.
Slovakia, a NATO member with a sophisticated industrial base and a strategic location at the heart of Europe, has emerged as an increasingly consequential partner for India.
The country has consistently backed India's bid for a permanent seat in a reformed United Nations Security Council and has taken a "constructive approach" to India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
