India’s lone representative at fencing, Chadalavada Anandha Sundhararaman Bhavani Devi, simply known as Bhavani Devi, got off to a winning start in the women’s individual sabre in the Tokyo Olympics at Makuhari Messe B Hall Yellow Piste. Bhavani overpowered Tunisia’s Nadia Ben Azizi by 15-3 in just 6 minutes and 14 seconds. Bhavani’s official FIE rank is 42, while youngster Nadia was ranked 384. Bhavani dominated the matchup from the word go as fencer reached 8 points without a reply from Tunisian youngster in the first half.
Nadia couldn’t hold much in the second half too, as she tried to delay the inevitable as 29th seed soon won India’s first ever fencing match in the history of Olympics.
Bhavani Devi was pumped from the first ‘En Garde’ and led all the way through. However, Devi was knocked out after losing to France’s Manon Brunet in the Table of 32 match.
It is the big achievement for India, in the field of fencing.
