Bhavani Devi, who defended her gold medal at the Commonwealth Championship in August, is now working with well-known fencing coach Christian Bauer, 70, at his academy in Orleans, France.
Finally, I feel free : Bhavani Devi on becoming the first Indian fencer ever to qualify for Olympics I had been waiting for this moment all my life. Through all of last year, especially the lockdown, I carried it within me, holding on to this hope.
Bhavani Devi Finally, I feel free. That was what Bhavani Devi said she felt after becoming the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics.
For the sabre fencer to win a berth, South Korea needed to finish in the top four of the team event of the World Cup in Budapest, which would automatically earn them a Tokyo qualification, allowing her to claim one of two individual spots reserved for Asia & Oceania via Adjusted Official Ranking (AOR).
Finally, I feel free : Bhavani Devi on becoming the first Indian fencer ever to qualify for Olympics I had been waiting for this moment all my life. Through all of last year, especially the lockdown, I carried it within me, holding on to this hope.
Bhavani Devi Finally, I feel free. That was what Bhavani Devi said she felt after becoming the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics.
For the sabre fencer to win a berth, South Korea needed to finish in the top four of the team event of the World Cup in Budapest, which would automatically earn them a Tokyo qualification, allowing her to claim one of two individual spots reserved for Asia & Oceania via Adjusted Official Ranking (AOR).
Fencer Bhavani Devi tackles life in locked-down Livorno with eye on Tokyo
After visa issues stalled her return to Italy for months, Bhavani Devi managed to fly back in November last year to train in Livorno.
Bhavani Devi
Bhavani Devi felt a fleeting sense of fear when she slipped into her electric jacket in November last year. The Indian fencer had just returned to her training base - the Tuscan coastal city of Livorno after eight months. She d been target training and working on footwork drills on the terrace of her north Chennai home and the JN Stadium through a large part of the year. What the only Indian fencer in Olympic contention missed was a living, breathing opponent with a sword and quick reflexes.