Bhavani Devi etched her name in the history books as India's first-ever Olympic fencer with a stunning win over Ben Azizi. Starting her Tokyo 2020 journey on Monday, she dominated her opening match, becoming the first Indian to ever win a debut Sabre fencing bout at the Olympics. Her masterful display of skill was a moment of great celebration for Indian sports fans.
In the Table of 64 for Women’s Sabre fencing, Bhavani Devi went up against Nadia Ben Azizi. Despite a frustrating delay before the start, Bhavani stayed calm and focused. She took immediate charge of the bout, quickly establishing an 8-0 lead. Her presence was commanding, and she effectively shut down any attempt by Azizi to gain a foothold in the match. By combining precise attacks with strategic touches while defending, Bhavani secured a convincing 15-3 win to move into the Round of 32. This triumph stands as a highlight of her professional journey, reflecting the hard work she put into her intensive training camp in Italy to prepare for the Tokyo Games.
Bhavani attacked Azizi with exactitude and also scored useful points with few smart touches even when she was on the back foot. Bhavani defeated Ben Azizi 15-3 and advanced to the table of 32. This victory in the Olympics will be a memorable one in Bhavani’s career. The 27-year-old from Tamil Nadu trained tremendously in Italy and enhanced her techniques for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The difficulty ramped up in the Round of 32, where the debutante Bhavani Devi was pitted against France's Manon Brunet, the world number three. Being ranked 42nd, Bhavani found it challenging to score against the heavily favored 4th seed. Nevertheless, her tenacity was evident throughout the match; she fought relentlessly and refused to back down against the French powerhouse.
Trailing 2-8 against Brunet, the Indian national champion took a brief tactical pause. Bhavani kept the pressure high, refusing to let Brunet settle in by consistently hunting for touches. She turned the match into a real struggle, playing intelligently to claw back 5 points in the second round. Ultimately, the French fencer relied on her vast experience to secure the win and advance to the pre-quarter-finals.
Though her journey ended in the Round of 32, Bhavani Devi's determination has cemented her place as a pioneer in Indian Olympic history. Her achievements are expected to inspire a new generation of Indians to take up fencing. A powerhouse in her own right, Bhavani is a nine-time national champion and a multi-medalist, having won Bronze at the 2009 and 2012 Commonwealth Games. Her international success also includes medals from the 2010 Asian Fencing Championship and the 2015 Flemish Open, as well as a historic silver medal at the 2014 Asian Championship—the first ever for an Indian.