File picture of fencer Bhavani Devi in action.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Not being able to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics made India’s top fencer Bhavani Devi’s days and nights longer. She didn’t speak to her family for a while drowning in sorrow, disappointment and introspection.
Like a true professional, she, however, quickly regrouped and has been fervently with her coach Christian Bauer in Padua (Italy) despite results not being favourable in quite a few tournaments.
Never a quitter, the 31-year-old is gearing up to put her best foot forward in the individual women’s sabre event of the World fencing championships to be held at Tbilisi (Georgia) from July 26 (Worlds are from July 22 to 30).
“This is going to be my fifth World championships in the senior category. I want this to be my best. My best result in Worlds was reaching the round-of-16 in the 2019 edition. I am looking forward to my event on 26th,” said Bhavani to The Hindu in a recent interaction from Padua.
Training with Bauer, Bhavani said has been an experience in itself. “He is a strict taskmaster. He is one of the best coaches in the world. It’s not easy to train under him. We have to learn and adapt quickly. Our working relationship is getting better,” she said.
In the last 12 months, Bhavani has participated in two Asian championships, in Kuwait and Bali, four World Cups in Oran (Algeria), Greece, Peru and Sint-Niklaas (Belgium) and two Grand Prix in Seoul (South Korea) and Tunisia. Her best has been reaching the round of 32 in Oran.
While admitting that her performance has not been great, Bhavani insisted she is slowly getting to her best.
“I feel in the last three competitions, there has been improvements, especially after the Asian championship in Bali (from June 17 to 23 2025; Bhavani reached the pre-quarterfinals). I felt as if I was playing well as I did during training sessions. Mentally and physically, I am feeling better,” the Tokyo Olympian and the first fencer from India to make it to the quadrennial event, said.
Bhavani, the 12-time Senior National champion, said it took time for her to come to terms with not being able to make the cut to the Paris Olympics. She said her faith in the process kept her going, the nagging shoulder problem notwithstanding.
“I had pain in my (right) shoulder during the 2024 Asian championships. There were few who suggested I go for surgery. In August-September 2024, I did rehab in Bengaluru under physiotherapist Yash Pandey. I focused on my recovery and am perfectly fine now,” she said, while thanking Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu for its continued support.
Published – July 23, 2025 10:58 am IST
