Most countries send teams to international fencing championships. Bangladesh has never sent anyone. Until now. Muhil Mustapha, a UK-based civil engineer born in Cumilla, is set to become the first Bangladeshi to compete at the Senior Asian Fencing Championship in Delhi, India, before heading to the Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Lagos, Nigeria. Training 4-5 days a week around a full-time career, guided by former Great Britain international David Standen, Mustapha carries not just a sword onto the strip but the weight and pride of an entire nation discovering a sport for the first time. He spoke to the TIMES of Bangladesh about identity, sacrifice, and the underdog mentality that drives him.
How do you explain fencing to a relative back in Bangladesh who has only ever watched football and cricket? What is your elevator pitch for the sport?
Muhil: If you have seen movies like Pirates of the Caribbean or Star Wars, you will have seen a lot of sword fighting. It is pretty cool. It is not a very well-known sport; it is not very well known in Bangladesh. But the basic principle is that you have got a sword, I have got a sword, and we see who is better. It is basically sword fighting. This sport has a lot of history. It is one of the very first original Olympic sports. We have Lathi Khela back in Bangladesh, so it is a bit like that. It is like Lathi Khela, but it is a bit more structured.
The gear looks like a cross between a spacesuit and a ninja outfit. For someone who has never worn it, how hot, heavy, and exhausting does it get under that mask during a match?
Muhil: It is not as bad as you might think. We have a lot of protection. We have two protective layers. One goes underneath the jacket, and one goes over the jacket. For the weapon I use, you have an electric vest as well. Clothing technology now features sweat-wicking materials that take heat away from your body. Some of the beginner or cheaper equipment might get very hot, but the newer gear takes sweat away and keeps you quite cool underneath. When I fenced in Bangladesh, it was very hot because of the huge difference in temperature. I visited in October, and it was still very hot. If you train well enough and are used to your climate, you can neglect the heat.
You live and train in the UK, surrounded by world-class facilities, but you have chosen to represent Bangladesh at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships. What does it mean to you personally to wear that specific flag on your gear?
Muhil: I was born in Bangladesh, in Cumilla. My mother is from Cumilla and my father is from Habiganj, Sylhet. We moved to England when I was young. Every summer holiday, we went back to Bangladesh for a month to visit my mother’s family. I have a connection to the country. My roots are there because I was born there and partly raised there. I have a younger brother and a younger sister who were both born in the UK, and they do not feel the same pull to return. This is my way of giving back to the country that birthed me.
How has your Bangladeshi heritage or upbringing influenced your mindset, discipline, or grit when you are fighting?
Muhil: In many sports, people from larger countries look down on us. They view Bangladesh as a poor country without facilities. I enter competitions with an underdog mentality. My opponent has a lot more to lose than me, and I use my hard work to beat them. Growing up, my mother and father instilled a lot of discipline in me and made sure I stuck to a narrow path. People often do not know where Bangladesh is and mistake it for a part of India. People look down on me, but I do not care because I go in focused on winning.
What does a typical day of training look like to keep your mind and body sharp?
Muhil: I work full-time as a civil engineer and juggle my career with training and gym sessions. A typical week starts on Monday with work and rest from practice. On Tuesday, I work out with my personal trainer from 06:00 to 07:00, complete my day job, and then do sparring and fencing training in the evening. Wednesday mirrors Monday with work and rest. On Thursday, I see my personal trainer from 06:00 to 07:00, go to work, take a one-hour individual technical lesson with my coach, and finish with fencing training and sparring. Friday is a half-day at work followed by rest. On Saturday, I see my personal trainer from 06:00 to 07:00 and then rest. On Sunday, I spend one to two hours doing technical work with my fencing coach. It is intense, and heading straight to training after an eight-to-six workday takes a lot of energy.
Walk us through the final 60 seconds before you step onto the strip for a massive match. What do you do?
Muhil: I do not listen to anything. I go to a separate, isolated corner. I close my eyes, breathe, and remind myself that I earned my spot through hard work. I do breathing exercises and meditation to block everything out and ensure I am calm. My focus is entirely on fighting well, rather than fast or messy, because I know I can win if I fight well. Sitting in a corner with my eyes closed to block everything out is my routine before a match.
You mentioned you are an engineer. How long has it been since you graduated?
Muhil: I graduated with a civil engineering degree in the UK four years ago, and I now work full-time.
Representing a nation on a global stage is massive. What has been the toughest sacrifice you have had to make behind the scenes to get to this point?
Muhil: Preparation requires a massive amount of time and effort. My week is very busy with a personal trainer, a fencing coach, and team training. I often joke about how my social life has dropped off a cliff because of this commitment. I spend a lot of time away from home, so there’s a running joke about how my parents don’t see me often even though we live in the same house, though they support my goals. Intense days like Thursday mean I sometimes wake up in a bit of pain on Friday morning, depending on how tough the sessions were. You must maintain your belief along with the time and effort, otherwise you switch off.
What is the ultimate Bangladeshi comfort food you treat yourself to the second a tournament is officially over?
Muhil: Kacchi biryani is the food I will treat myself to any day of the week. The kacchi biryani available in the UK is not as good as the food in Bangladesh. The curry houses in the UK reduce the spice levels compared to authentic Bangladeshi cuisine.
What is your number one piece of advice for a kid in Dhaka, Sylhet, or Chittagong who watches you compete and wants to start fencing tomorrow, given the lack of facilities in Bangladesh?
Muhil: There are fencing clubs in Dhaka, though I do not think any exist yet in Sylhet or Chittagong. The first step is to get in touch with those clubs. Once you start and find that you enjoy the sport, you can increase your training. You must be brave enough to look on the internet. When I started, I did not know fencing existed in Bangladesh, so I researched online and used contacts in the country to find a club. Statistically, fencing is one of the safest sports in the world. The protective clothing ensures you do not feel hits, making it much safer than football or cricket. It looks fast and dangerous, but the gear is highly protective.
How are you planning for the Asian Fencing Championship, and how is your coach contributing to your development?
Muhil: Since October 2025, I’ve been working with David Standen, my coach, whose influence has been hugely important in my development. As a former international fencer for Great Britain, he brings a wealth of experience and understanding to my training. Outside of training, we’re good friends, but the moment a lesson starts, that dynamic changes completely. He becomes a demanding coach who expects a high standard from me and never lets me settle for less than my best. The lessons are tough, and he pushes me hard technically, physically, and mentally, but I’ve definitely noticed a real improvement in my fencing since we started working together. I feel sharper, more disciplined, and more aware on piste. That progress has been vital in preparing me for major upcoming competitions such as the Asian Fencing Championships in Delhi and the Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Lagos, and I’m grateful for the standards and belief he brings to my training.
What role has your physical conditioning played in this preparation?
Muhil: Alongside my fencing training, my personal trainer, Alex Cummings, has also played a huge role in my development. Through our 3 times weekly early morning sessions since February 2026, he has pushed me to become fitter, stronger, and more resilient physically, qualities that are essential in a demanding sport like fencing. The work we do together has improved my endurance, explosiveness, and overall conditioning, which has translated directly onto the piste. Just as importantly, those sessions have helped build discipline and consistency into my routine, giving me the physical foundation and confidence I need going into major competitions.
Will you use the Senior Asian Fencing Championship as a training experience to prepare for the Commonwealth Fencing Championships?
Muhil: Absolutely. Every tournament provides experience, whether you win a gold medal or finish last. Many athletes view results in a binary way of winning or losing, without learning lessons about what went wrong and how to improve. I am entering this tournament with a learning mindset to see what I can do on a big stage. When the tournament ends, I will return to the UK to review video footage with my coach to make improvements.
