Fencer Abi and coach Surjit in Indian contingent for Sabre Grand Prix in Italy

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 16 : Fencer Abi Laishram and coach Langoljam Surjit from Manipur have been named in the Indian contingent for the Sabre Grand Prix (M&W) due to be held at Padova, Italy from May 19 to 22.
Apart from Abi Laishram, CA Bhavani Devi, Karan Singh and Abhay Shinde are the fencers who will be representing India at the event while Langoljam Surjit was named among the four-member coaches and support staff of the team.
Abi Laishram, born to L Ojit Singh and Sapana Devi of Singjamei Waikhom Leikai had made the State proud on numerous occasions winning as many as 18 medals in the National arena and 2 medals in the International events in a span of 8 years.
17 year old Abi started her fencing stint in 2014 at SWC, Khongman and had trained under coach Ranjit till 2019 before she shifted her training base at SAI-Centre of Excellence in Gujarat.
She has two gold medals in her kitty winning both in the team and individual events at the 7th Mini National Fencing Championship held from July 22 to 24 in 2016 and had recently won a silver medal (individual) and a bronze medal (team) at the 32nd Senior National Fencing Championship held from March 13 to 16 this year in Amritsar, Punjab.
Last year she won a silver (individual) and a bronze (team)  in the 29th Junior National Fencing Championship held in Sonipat, Haryana.
Abi had also won two bronze medals, one each in the junior and cadet team events in the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships held in Uzbekistan.
In the meantime, sabre coach Langoljam Surjit is a Subedar at the 54th Engr Regt and had an illustrious National level career winning as many as 16 medals in the team and individual events including 6 gold medals.
Surjit who was born on January 1, 1982 to Langoljam Tomba and Newarei Devi  had also represented India in three international fencing championships, the latest in the Thailand Open Fencing Championship held in 2006.
Surjit completed his Diploma in Sports Coaching in Fencing at SAI NS NIS Patiala in 2010 and FIE Budapest Coaching Course (Level III) at FIE Budapest Coaching Academy in Hungary in 2018 has helped India win 4 gold, 6 silver and 6 bronze medals since his coaching stint in 2011 till 2019.
The coach hailing from Sagolband Tera Akham Leikai had also coached the Indian team which won 2 gold and a silver medal at South Asian Games held in Kathmandu in 2019.
Under his guidance, many fencers have bagged as many as 61 gold, 41 silver and 52 bronze medals in the National level fencing events held till 2020.