Fencing
Fencing is a combat sport with three weapons: foil, which scores with the point on the trunk only; épée, with the point anywhere on the body; and sabre, with the point or the edge. In foil and sabre the right of way decides who scores when both fencers hit. A pool bout goes to five hits and a direct-elimination bout to fifteen.
Checked 20 October 2026
New to fencing? Start here
How long
Pool bouts to 5 hits in 3 minutes; knockout bouts to 15 hits over three periods of 3 minutes
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Olympic Games (fencing)The title fencing is measured by.Every 4 years · Holder: 12 events; Japan top of the table with 2 golds
- 2FIE World ChampionshipsThe sport's own world title.Yearly, except Olympic years (Hong Kong 2026; Tashkent 2027) · Holder: Hong Kong 2026, 22 to 30 July: 12 events
- 3Asian Games (fencing)Asia's multi-sport title; for India often the most reachable major medal.Every 4 years · Holder: 12 events; Japan top with 6 golds
India
- Fencing at the Olympic Games: No medal
- World Fencing Championships: No medal
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- ItalyFencing at the Olympic Games: 50 golds, 49 silvers, 36 bronzes (latest 2024); World Fencing Championships: 128 golds, 116 silvers, 138 bronzes (latest 2026)
- FranceFencing at the Olympic Games: 45 golds, 47 silvers, 38 bronzes (latest 2024); World Fencing Championships: 100 golds, 101 silvers, 100 bronzes (latest 2026)
- HungaryFencing at the Olympic Games: 39 golds, 25 silvers, 29 bronzes (latest 2024); World Fencing Championships: 97 golds, 90 silvers, 100 bronzes (latest 2026)
- Soviet UnionFencing at the Olympic Games: 18 golds, 15 silvers, 16 bronzes (latest 1988); World Fencing Championships: 92 golds, 54 silvers, 47 bronzes (latest 1991)
- RussiaFencing at the Olympic Games: 16 golds, 9 silvers, 9 bronzes (latest 2020); World Fencing Championships: 58 golds, 33 silvers, 36 bronzes (latest 2026)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), Technical Rules, August 2026 |
| International federation | Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) |
| In India | Fencing Association of India (FAI): recognised, on the MYAS list for 2026 |
Where and when it is played
On a piste 14 metres long and 1.5 metres wide. The big events: the Olympic Games every four years and the FIE World Championships every year except Olympic years.