Wheelchair fencing
Wheelchair fencing is foil, épée and sabre fenced by athletes seated in wheelchairs locked into a frame on the piste. The distance between them is set before the bout and cannot change, so the fight is all upper body. Fencers are grouped into categories A and B by sitting balance.
New to wheelchair fencing? Start here
How long
Pool bouts to 5 hits or 3 minutes; knockout bouts to 15 hits in three 3-minute periods
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Paralympic Games (wheelchair fencing)The top title in wheelchair fencing.Every 4 years · Holder: Paris 2024, 16 events: China 10 golds
- 2IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World ChampionshipsThe sport's own world title.Every 2 years (to check) · Holder: Iksan 2025, 2 to 7 September
- 3Asian Para Games (wheelchair fencing)Asia's para multi-sport title, held after the Asian Games in the same city.Every 4 years · Holder: 22 sports, 501 events
India
- Wheelchair fencing at the Paralympic Games: No medal; India is not named in the saved articles
- IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Championships: Not in the saved tables
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- FranceWheelchair fencing at the Paralympic Games: 62 golds, 43 silvers, 40 bronzes (latest 2024)
- ChinaWheelchair fencing at the Paralympic Games: 43 golds, 23 silvers, 16 bronzes (latest 2024)
- ItalyWheelchair fencing at the Paralympic Games: 30 golds, 36 silvers, 31 bronzes (latest 2024)
- Hong KongWheelchair fencing at the Paralympic Games: 22 golds, 18 silvers, 16 bronzes (latest 2016)
- Great BritainWheelchair fencing at the Paralympic Games: 13 golds, 15 silvers, 27 bronzes (latest 2024)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | World Para Fencing, Book 1 Technical Rules, January 2026 |
| International federation | World Para Fencing; the World Championships are named for IWAS |
| In India | The Paralympic Committee of India is on the MYAS list for 2026; which body runs wheelchair fencing in India is not checked |
Searched 2026-10-20: the PCI's circular for the 14th National Wheelchair Fencing Championship (2022) could not be opened (expired certificate); a search named Wheelchair Fencing & Amputee Sports of India. Not stated until a source is saved.
Where and when it is played
On a piste with a frame that holds every wheel still. The big events: the Paralympic Games every four years and the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Championships.