Bhavani Devi Secures India’s First-Ever Medal in Asian Fencing Championships

Beijing: Indian fencer C A Bhavani Devi made history at the Asian Fencing Championships in Wuxi, China. She secured India’s first-ever medal by winning a bronze in the women’s sabre category. Although Bhavani lost a close match to Uzbekistan’s Zaynab Dayibekova in the semifinals, her achievement guaranteed India a place on the podium.

In the quarterfinals, Bhavani shocked reigning world champion Misaki Emura of Japan with a remarkable 15-10 victory. This win against Misaki, who had clinched the women’s sabre gold at the 2022 World Fencing Championships, marked a significant milestone for Bhavani, as she had previously been unable to defeat the Japanese fencer.

Bhavani’s journey to the semifinals began with a bye in the round of 64, followed by a win against Dospay Karina from Kazakhstan. She then upset third seed Ozaki Seri with a score of 15-11 in the pre-quarterfinals, setting the stage for her historic performance.

Rajeev Mehta, the secretary-general of the Fencing Association of India, expressed his congratulations to Bhavani on this remarkable accomplishment. He emphasized the significance of her achievement, highlighting that she is the first Indian fencer to win a medal at the prestigious Asian Championships.

While Bhavani fell short in the semifinals by the narrowest of margins, losing by just one point, her performance showcased substantial improvement. This achievement adds to her legacy as the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics, where she reached the round of 32 at the Tokyo Games.

Overall, Bhavani Devi’s bronze medal win at the Asian Fencing Championships is a momentous occasion for Indian fencing, signifying a remarkable breakthrough for the sport in the country.