Chadalavada Anandha Sundhararaman Bhavani Devi, just recognized as Bhavani Devi, made history by becoming the very first fencer from India to ever qualify for the Olympics. Although her Olympic debut ended with a second round defeat in the women’s person sabre occasion, the 27-year-old from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, has earned a lot praise for her overall performance throughout the Games. But praise and recognition have come to Bhavani Devi just after years of struggle, as she revealed in an interview with ‘Humans of Bombay’. There was a time when India’s lone representative at fencing in the Tokyo Games could not afford to participate in a tournament abroad, regardless of currently getting very first Indian fencer to ever win silver in the Asian Championships. That’s when late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had stepped in to cover her expenditures for the tournament, Bhavani Devi revealed.
In her interview with Humans of Bombay, the fencer spoke about this incident and a lot more. “I was 11 years old when I had to select a sport as an extracurricular activity in school. Fencing was the one least chosen by my classmates, but it sounded unique, so I signed up for it,” she mentioned.
Bhavani Devi recalls that her parents had been one hundred per cent supportive of her interest in the sport, even even though it was “too unknown to be taken seriously.”
“To buy me my first ever fencing kit, Mumma sold her jewellery worth Rs.6000. My parents would spend hours in various offices trying to help me find sponsors for my training and competitions abroad,” she mentioned.
Seeing her family struggle financially, Bhavani Devi was conscious of the truth that she would be letting them down if she lost at her sport of selection – but she did drop regularly at the starting of her profession, for the reason that she necessary a mentor. “Thankfully, I was spotted at a tournament by a coach, who agreed to train me!” she mentioned.
With the assist of her coach, she was capable to win gold at the Under-17 national championships. Even so, Bhavani Devi says she practically gave up fencing in 2013, for the reason that the price to participate in tournaments was way beyond her family’s implies. At that time, they had currently taken a loan of Rs 10 lakh. But her mother’s faith in her kept her going – and she educated tougher and tougher till she became the very first Indian fencer to win silver in the Asian Championships in 2014.
“Still, as time passed, I needed more support; it was a constant struggle,” she remembered.
“I remember, once, when my parents couldn’t pay for me to participate in a tournament abroad, I wrote to CM Jayalalithaa ma’am requesting for help. She invited me to her home and offered to cover my expenses. I felt like luck was finally on my side!” the fencer revealed.
“And after all the trials and tribulations, this year, I got the best news- I qualified for the Tokyo Olympics and became the first Indian fencer to do so!” mentioned Bhavani Devi.
Recently, just after winning a championship, the was also capable to repay the Rs 10 lakh loan. ” I could see the relief on my family’s face. I’m even planning to surprise my family by buying them a home,” she mentioned.
Bhavani Devi got off to a winning commence in the women’s person 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. However, she was knocked out just after losing to France’s Manon Brunet in the Table of 32 match.
Every finish has a starting, I will continue my practice and surely work really hard to win a medal at the next Olympics in France and make my nation proud.
I want to thank every one of you who stood by me.— C A Bhavani Devi (@IamBhavaniDevi) July 26, 2021
Bhavani Devi took to Twitter just after her exit from the Tokyo Games 2020 to say she would continue instruction for the 2024 Olympics. “I won the first match 15/3 against Nadia Azizi and become the first Indian fencing player to win a match at Olympic but second match I lost 7/15 against world top 3 player Manon Brunet,” she wrote. “I did my level best but couldn’t win. I am sorry,” she mentioned, adding that she would continue to practice really hard to win a medal at the next Olympics. “Every end has a beginning, I will continue my practice and definitely work hard to win a medal at the next Olympics in France and make my country proud,” she wrote.