Bhavani Devi created history by becoming the first Indian fencer to have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics by getting a position in the official rankings of the Asia/Oceania zones
Bhavani Devi qualified for fencing from India after Hungary lost to South Korea in the quarterfinal match during the Sabre Fencing World Cup in this year.
Fencer Bhavani Devi Career And Road To The Tokyo Olympics 2020
Devi belongs from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She started her sports career in the year 2003. She received her education from Muruga Dhanushkodi Girls Higher Secondary school and went on to complete her graduation from St. Joseph’s Engineering College. She is also a Business Administrate graduate from Government Brennen College from Kerala.
She started playing Fencing at the school level during 2004. She had joined the Sports Authority of India (SAI) after completing her class 10 education in Kerala. When she was just 14 years old, she had participated in her first international tournament, which was held in Turkey, but she was disqualified as she got a black card as she was late by three minutes. During the 2010 Asian Championship, which was held in the Philippines, she had won a bronze medal.
Achievements of fencer Bhavani Devi
During the 2009 Commonwealth Championship, which was held in Malaysia, she had won a bronze medal. In the 2010 International Open, which was held in Thailand, she had again won a bronze medal. In the same year, a Cadet Asian Championship was held in Philippines and she had participated in it. She also participated in the 2012 Commonwealth championship, which was held in New Jersey. Bhavani also participated in the 2015 under-23 Asian Championship, which was held in Mongolia.
During the 2014 Asian Championship of the under-23 category, which was held in Philippines, she had won a silver medal and even became the first Indian to do so. The former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa honored Bhavani for her successful run at the Asian Championship and awarded her Rs. 3 lakhs, so that she could receive training in the U.S. She also got selected for the “Go Sports Foundation” which comes under Rahul Dravid Athlete Mentorship Programme in the year 2015.
She created history by winning a gold medal in the Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championship which was held in Canberra and also became the first Indian to do so. She had beaten Catriona Thompson, who is from Scotland during the semi-final match and then went on to defeat England’s Emily Raux. She is currently training in Italy.
She currently ranks at the 42nd position and has 37.0 points.
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