Bhubaneswar, Feb 24 (TIWN) Size does not always matter. Ask Himachal Pradeshs Jyotika Dutta, the epee specialist who is taking the Indian fencing world by storm. Petite, lean and more often than not the shorter fencer in a competition, that has rarely come in her way of overpowering taller and bigger opponents.

The 22-year-old underlined her growing stature in the sport on Sunday, clinching the first gold for Guru Nanak Dev University at Amritsar in Punjab in the fencing competition of the Khelo India University Games here.

Just back from a highly productive stint in France, at the International Fencing federation’s high performance centre, Jyotika used that experience to bail herself out from a tricky start.

“Adversity teaches you a lot,” she laughed, brushing aside her two defeats in the group stage. “I had some rough starts but was determined not to make the same mistakes in the knockouts.”

And sure enough she didn’t. Up against an opponent at least six inches taller than her in Yashkeerat Hayer, Jyotika raced to a five-point lead and completed an emphatic 15-5 win.

The final was a much tougher proposition, with Linthoi Haobam (Manipur University) matching her point by point. Yet, Jyotika prevailed 15-14 in a tense bout, using her small frame and quick feet to her advantage.