President Cup Fencing Championship begins on Friday, 16 January, at the Shaheed Captain Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium in Paltan, and it marks the long-awaited return of SA Games gold medallist Fatema Mujib after four months out with a knee injury.
Fatema returns to competitive action as a Bangladesh Navy fencer. She steps back onto the piste with purpose, not sentiment, and the timing matters.
This tournament stretches beyond domestic silverware. The federation uses it as a live rehearsal for the SAFF Games, with the Nepal International Fencing Championship and the Asian Fencing Championship in New Delhi in June looming large.
The plan stays simple and sensible. Keep fencers competing, sharpen match fitness and raise international standards through constant pressure.
Eighteen teams line up from districts, services teams and institutions. Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Ansar and VDP, BGB, private universities, educational institutions and clubs bring a field of around 250 fencers.
They compete across épée, foil and sabre in men’s and women’s individual and team events. The scale alone lifts the intensity.
Federation officials believe Fatema’s return adds extra bite. They also stress the bigger picture of depth, not dependency.
Federation president Major Kamrul Islam (retd) said, “Fatema stayed out for four months due to a leg injury. She missed the SA Games camp. Now she is fully fit.” That clarity matters because it resets expectations around her form.
He pushed the point further. “We are not busy only with Fatema Mujib. During her absence, we produced many fencers like her. She won SA Games gold in 2019. Many young fencers came forward after seeing her. She is symbolic. Many draw inspiration from her.” The message lands because it frames Fatema as a spark, not a crutch.
Suzuki sponsors the event, continuing its support after backing the July Revolution Fencing Championship last August. The consistency helps the calendar breathe.
