Chadalavada Anandha Sundhararaman Bhavani Devi aka CA Bhavani Devi is a fencing star from India, who has several international medals and awards under her belt. The spotlight truly shone on her on July 26, 2021, when she became the first Indian fencer to compete in the Tokyo Olympics.
She started strong by winning her first match against Nadia Ben Azizi from Tunisia with a score of 15-3, but then lost her next match to Manon Brunet from France, who eventually won a bronze medal. Even though Bhavani didn't win a medal, she showed the world that Indian women could compete in fencing on the world stage.
A sport where people fight with swords, fencing started as a way to train soldiers, but eventually became a sport in the 15th century. There are three types of fencing: foil, épée, and sabre.
Fencing in India started receiving more attention when the Fencing Association of India was created in 1974. Since then, Indian fencers like Bhavani have worked hard to make the sport popular in the country.
Born on August 27, 1993 in Chennai, Bhavani loved playing squash, volleyball, and fencing when she was young. But as she got older, she focused solely on fencing and showed exceptional talent in the sport. Her parents and school supported her immensely, not letting financial constraints deter her course, and even giving her permission to miss exams to compete in fencing tournaments.
In 2009, at the age of 17, Bhavani Devi clinched her first international fencing medal—a team bronze at the 2009 Junior Commonwealth Championships held in Malaysia. Building on this success, three years later, she secured another bronze at the 2012 Junior Commonwealth Championships hosted in the USA. These early achievements marked the beginning of Bhavani's promising career in fencing.
Continuing her upward trajectory, Bhavani further distinguished herself at the U-23 Asian Championships in 2014 and 2015, where she earned silver and bronze medals respectively. These accolades underscored her growing prowess on the international stage.
Bhavani's determination to pursue fencing professionally became evident early on. Her rigorous training regimen began at 5 am, immediately followed by school. After classes, she would head directly to the stadium for further training, often not returning home until around 8 pm, contingent upon the bus schedules. This relentless dedication reiterated her commitment to excel in her chosen sport.
In an interview with HerCircle, she said ‘Fencing is an expensive sport. In the initial stages of playing the sport, it was very difficult for me to buy the equipment. During the first 3-4 years, I had just one equipment, which I would use for competitions alone. For training, I used broken swords or bamboo sticks. Even during competitions, I didn’t always have all the right equipment. For instance, sometimes I didn’t have the wires, so I had to borrow them. I would wait for someone to finish their event and get their equipment for my matches. It was also difficult for my parents to pay the entry fees of about ₹200 or ₹250 for each category in these contests, but they still supported me. I qualified for many international tournaments, but couldn’t go due to lack of financial support. Even now, I regret the fact that I missed out on junior category international awards significantly, because I could never take part in any junior world level competitions initially.’
In 2016, Bhavani relocated to Livorno, Italy, to train under the guidance of Nicola Zanotti, a renowned fencing coach. This move not only provided her with the opportunity to spar with some of Europe's top fencers but also served as a catalyst for her remarkable achievements.
Since then, Bhavani has won silver and bronze in individual events at the Women's World Cup in 2018, along with gold medals at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Championships. Earlier, she successfully defended her title in the women's individual sabre category at the Senior National Fencing Championships. Furthermore, she showcased her prowess on the international stage by clinching a bronze medal at the Asian Fencing Championships held in China. These accomplishments stem from her relentless pursuit of excellence, cementing her status as a formidable force in the world of fencing.
Bhavani's journey from a curious ten-year-old, initially drawn to fencing as a novel activity to explore, to her current standing as a decorated fencer, is truly remarkable. Her consistent dedication and outstanding performances have propelled her towards ever greater success in the world of fencing.
In another big competition, the Asian Fencing Championships in Wuxi, China, she made history again. She won a bronze medal, becoming the first Indian to do so in fencing at the event. She beat Misaki Emura, who was the world champion, in a thrilling match. Bhavani also fought well in the semifinals but narrowly lost.
Bhavani is a staunch advocate for the widespread inclusion of fencing in schools and colleges. She emphasises the importance of introducing more fencing centres equipped with proper facilities and support staff. Additionally, she strongly advocates for India to host international competitions in the sport. Bhavani's vision aims to enhance accessibility to fencing, promote its development, and elevate its status within the sporting landscape of India. Her success has inspired many young athletes to take up fencing and aim for the top.
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