Prominent ace fencer of Jammu and Kashmir, Shreya Gupta, has set the ball rolling in fencing by winning her first-ever individual medal at the international level by clinching the Sabre category bronze medal in the ongoing Commonwealth Junior and Cadet Championship 2024 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Shreya, in a superb display of the game, completely outclassed Saunders Nicole of England in the table of 16 by a margin of 15-3, whereas in a medal bout, she secured a win over Hardge Gala of Australia by 15-13. In the semifinals, Shreya lost to Juliet Mind of Singapore in a tight finish by a score of 15-11.
Shreya has already won two bronze medals in the team events of the Commonwealth Cadet and Junior Fencing Championship held at Newcastle and London in the 2018 and 2022 editions of the championships. Besides, she secured a junior bronze medal in the team event at the Asian Championship in Uzbekistan and has participated in about 15 prestigious international fencing events. She had been an elite athlete in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and a Khelo India athlete. Secretary, of Youth Services and Sports Department, Sarmad Hafeez, and Secretary, of J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gul, congratulated the JKSC athlete and wished her good luck for future competitions.
