Bhavani Devi creates historical past, turn out to be first Indian fencer to win medal in Asian Championships

By India Today Sports Desk: C A Bhavani Devi scripted historical past on Monday when she defeated reigning World Champion Misaki Emura within the Asian Fencing Championship quarterfinals, incomes India its first-ever medal on the occasion.

Bhavani defeated reigning world champion Misaki Emura of Japan 15-10 within the quarterfinals. Misaki gained the gold medal in ladies’s saber on the 2022 World Fencing Championships in Cairo.

Bhavani will compete within the semifinals in opposition to Uzbekistan’s Zaynab Dayibekova, hoping to enhance on the color of her medal. Bhavani, 29, acquired a bye within the spherical of 64 earlier than defeating Kazakhstan’s Dospay Karina within the subsequent spherical.

In the pre-quarterfinals, Bhavani defeated third seed Ozaki Seri 15-11. Rajeev Mehta, secretary-general of the Fencing Association of India, 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 the 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 instructed PTI.

Bhavani Devi, who grew to become the primary Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics, exited within the spherical of 32 on the Tokyo Games.