Olympian C. A. Bhavani Devi achieved a career-defining milestone on Monday after progressing to the semifinal of the women’s sabre event at the Asian Fencing Championships in Wuxi, China. Bhavani will be the first Indian fencer to win a medal at the Asian Championships and has also assured India of its first medal at the event. The fencer stunned reigning world champion Misaki Emura of Japan 15-10 in the quarterfinals to write history.
Misaki had won the women’s sabre gold medal at the 2022 World Fencing Championships held in Cairo.
In the semifinal, Bhavani will be up against Uzbekistan’s Zaynab Dayibekova and will look to better the colour of her medal.
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The 29-year-old Bhavani had received a bye in the round of 64 before beating Dospay Karina of Kazakhstan in the next round.
Bhavani then upset third seed Ozaki Seri 15-11 in the pre-quarterfinals.
Fencing Association of India secretary-general Rajeev Mehta congratulated Bhavani on her historic achievement.
“It is a very proud day for Indian fencing. Bhavani has achieved what no one could achieve before. She is first Indian fencer to win a medal at the prestigious Asian Championships. On behalf of the entire fencing fraternity, I congratulate her and hope she brings back gold,” Mehta told PTI.
Bhavani Devi, who became the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics, exited in the round of 32 at the Tokyo Games.
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