Shruti Joshi Becomes First Fencer from Nagpur to Win National Games
Nagpur, India: Shruti Joshi, a 22-year-old fencer from Nagpur, has made history by winning a bronze medal in the women’s individual Sabre event at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand. She is the first-ever fencer from Nagpur to win a National Games medal.
Shruti comes from a humble background. Her father, Dharmendra Joshi, works as a car driver, and her mother, Saroj, is a homemaker. Despite financial challenges, her parents have always supported her dreams. Shruti’s father continues to pay off a loan he took to send her to international competitions.
In the National Games, Shruti faced India’s top fencer, CA Bhavani Devi, in the semifinal. Although she lost the match 10-15, Shruti impressed many by scoring 10 points against Bhavani, the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics. Mohammed Shoeb, secretary of the Nagpur Fencing Association, believes Shruti has the potential to become India’s best fencer.
Shruti has competed in several international events, including the 2019 International Championship in Jordan and the 2023 Asian Cadet and Junior Championships in Uzbekistan. Her father proudly shared, “It is my duty to help Shruti achieve her dreams.”
Shruti is excited about her National Games medal and hopes it will help her get a government job. “This medal has given me confidence to become the best in India,” she said. She is now aiming to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. However, she faces financial difficulties in participating in more international competitions. “I will keep working hard to achieve my goal,” she added.
Shruti’s interest in fencing started when she saw her cousin play the sport. She trained under her first coach, Ankeet Gajbhiye, and has continued to develop with the support of the Nagpur Fencing Association. She currently trains at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Kerala with coaches Sagar Lagu and Arun Rajkumar. With determination and hard work, Shruti hopes to bring even more pride to Nagpur and India in the future.
