Asian Games 2023 top contenders: Bhavani Devi, India's best hope in fencing at continental event

In a country crazy about cricket and hockey, fencer Bhavani Devi has made India hopeful of another glorious victory at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.

From an Asian Fencing Championships medal to an Olympic participation, Devi has been monumental in scripting many firsts for India in the sport of fencing.

In July 2021, the Chennai-born player created history when she became the first fencer from the country to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.

Cut to two years later, in June 2023, Bhavani Devi was the first Indian fencer to win a bronze medal at the Asian Fencing Championships by beating the reigning world champion Misaki Emura of Japan in the quarterfinals.

But it has been a long road leading up to the ultimate tournaments.

Hailing from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Devi took up a variety of sports as a child, eventually zeroing in on fencing in 2004.

Her exceptional talent caught the eye of Sports Authority of India coach Sagar Lagu who suggested that she train at its Thalassery facility, one of the few centres offering fencing training in India.

Devi won her first-ever international medal at the 2012 Youth Commonwealth Championships.

And ever since, her list of achievements has continued to grow.

In 2017, Devi brought home India’s premier senior international gold medal in fencing at the Women’s World Cup satellite tournament.

It was followed by two more golds in the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Championships in the individual sabre event.

Now, all eyes are glued on her as she strives to score the prized Asian Games medal in September 2023.