Indian Epee Fencer Taniksha Khatri Takes The Tough European Route to Earn Ticket to 2028 Los Angeles

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Several young and aspiring Indian fencers are taking the challenging European route to be successful at the global level. Despite facing hardships, including financial constraints, to practice and compete regularly on foreign soil, the mood is upbeat!

Based out of Paris in France, the 21 years old international epee fencer Taniksha Khatri from Karnal in Haryana is among those who is passionate to excel at the global-level. To achieve her goals, the youngster from Haryana is all ready for the uphill task.

"It might be difficult but not impossible to achieve good results at the global level," the Haryana fencer told Mykhel over the phone from Paris. "Everyone knows that it takes extreme sacrifice to scale new heights. And, I'm mentally, physically and emotionally ready."

The national champion in epee is based out of Paris in France. She cooks her own meals and generally practices for more than four to five hours a day. She spends seven to eight months a year atworld famous Daniel Levavasseur academy in Paris. Levavasseur specialize in epee and has a brilliant track record as a coach at the Olympic Games.

Despite extreme sacrifice it was heartbreak for Tanikshaas earlier this year she narrowly missed a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She was quick to mentally recover from the setback and has mapped herplans for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

"The environment is good at the Levavasseur academy. I get the opportunity to practice with world best epee fencers," Taniksha tells you why she is based in Paris.

Taniksha's first visit to Levavasseur's academy was in 2019. Then she stayed for just three months. However, from 2022 to 2024she has been staying in Paris for more than six months at a stretch. She has also been competing on the European circuit. Levavasseur academy has a rule that fencers should enroll themselves for at least four long years.

"That's was the tricky part of training," the national champion in epee added. "It was tough for me to make arrangements for huge funds."

European fencers training at the academy, said Taniksha can do part time jobs and sustain themselves financially. "But for an Indian fencer like me, getting a work permit is difficult. Hence I've to depend on sponsors, parents and government support to practice and compete on the European circuit," she explained of the field issue that hampers her growth.

Financial constraint has been a big hurdle. But Taniksha has been navigating the issue to the best of her ability. "I explained my financial position to the coach at the academy that I will not be able to sign a four year contract and he has agreed for a one-year contract," the Haryana fencer revealed.

Taniksha has a private sponsor but that isn't adequate to train and compete in Europe. She joined the Indian Navy in January this year. Her monthly expenses of Euros 1600, excluding traveling for competitions, indicates to avail world class facilities players should have deep pockets. Or enough financial resources.

Taniksha's monthly rented accommodation cost her Euros 600. Coaching fee is approximately Euros 500 and she spends roughly Euros 500 on monthly groceries. She cooks her own meal. "To travel within Europe and compete in international events I need more funds," she explained.

Lack of funds forced her to withdraw from three world cups this year. It resulted in her world ranking plummeting to 145 from 80. "It hurts. After so much sacrifice I'm not able to maintain my world ranking," she added.

Taniksha won medals at Asian and Commonwealth junior fencing competitions. She had been dominating national competitions, but yet to get a big break at the senior international. For the record, till date no Indian fencer has won a medal at the Asian Games.

The Indian sports fraternity came to know about fencing as an Olympic discipline when Tamil Nadu's international sabre fencer CA Bhavani Devi made history by qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. At Tokyo she lost in the pre quarter-finals.

Bhavani, however, wasn't successful in qualifying for her second Olympic Games held this year in France between July 26 to August 11 in Paris. Bhavani too has her training based in Europe.

Karan Gurjar, is another fencer who has his base in Europe. He has also been raising funds to practice in Europe. Gurjar also narrowly missed to qualify for 2024 Paris Olympic Games, indicating the route to success is all uphill.

"India is far behind in epee," Taniksha explained. "Indian coaches are ok, but Europe is supposed to be the best place if the goal is to excel at major international events. There are good sparring partners in Europe, which is important to polish skills."

It all explains why Europe will continue to be home away from home for aspiring Indian fencers like Taniksha in future!