For decades, Indian fencers travelled abroad to witness world-class competitions, gain exposure and test themselves against the sport’s elite. This week, for the first time, Asia’s finest fencers came to India.
The successful hosting of the Asian Senior Fencing Championships in New Delhi marked a landmark chapter for Indian fencing, showcasing not only the country’s growing stature in the sport but also the progress made by athletes who have carried Indian fencing onto the international stage. Among them were Olympian Bhavani Devi and sabre fencer Karan Singh, two athletes whose journeys reflect the challenges, sacrifices and ambitions driving Indian fencing forward.
For Bhavani Devi, India’s first-ever Olympic fencer, the championship was particularly emotional. Twenty years ago, she was a young schoolgirl in Chennai, fascinated by a sport that very few Indians knew about.
Back in 2006, when Chennai hosted the Commonwealth Fencing Championships, a 12-year-old Bhavani skipped school to watch international fencers compete. The experience left a lasting impression and planted the seeds of a dream that would eventually take her to the Tokyo Olympics. “The last big event was the Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Chennai in 2006. I went there as a spectator and skipped school just to watch the competition. So I understand how watching international-level fencing at that age inspired me to perform better,” Bhavani Devi said.
Today, Bhavani understands the importance of visibility and representation more than anyone else. Since becoming the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics, she has emerged as the face of the sport in the country and inspired a new generation of athletes.
“I remember the last time Indians watched a fencing event was during my Tokyo Olympics campaign. After that, I don’t know if many people had the opportunity to watch a fencing competition featuring the Indian team. So it is great to fence in front of the Indian audience,” she added.
The Asian Championships also marked Bhavani’s return to major international competition following shoulder surgery in Italy last November. The procedure ended nearly two years of persistent pain that had affected both her training and performances.
Despite being away from competition for months, the 32-year-old delivered a spirited performance in New Delhi. She finished 23rd overall in the women’s sabre event and narrowly lost 14-15 to South Korean fencer Choi Se-bin in the Round of 32.
“Expectations were there from my side as well. In the last point, I was a little crushed. You need to learn from these moments because it’s not every day that you lose at 14-14. It’s a very important point, especially in sabre, where you have to think and decide fast while also executing your action,” Bhavani said, reflecting on her performance. “But I’m glad I did not restrict myself because of my shoulder,” she added.
The road back to competition was far from easy. Bhavani revealed that the surgery led to the longest break of her career. For an athlete accustomed to constant training and competition, the recovery process proved mentally demanding.
“The pain increased whenever my training intensity went up. So last November, we decided to go ahead with the surgery,” she said. “It was a little terrifying after the surgery. In the beginning, it was really hard because I had never taken any kind of break in my career. For the first two weeks, I was mostly confined to my room. I wasn’t even supposed to walk. I wanted to do something, but my arm was in a sling. It was really difficult because I was alone and didn’t know what to do,” she shared.
Yet Bhavani refused to disconnect from the sport. Even while recovering, she visited her training centre regularly, watched sessions and worked closely with her coach to maintain her tactical sharpness. “But after that, I understood that this recovery was important if I wanted to perform better. I embraced the process. Every day, I went to my training venue at my usual training time. I would watch the sessions, and my coach would talk to me about fencing, lessons, tactics, and preparation,” she explained.
“We mentally prepared for my return so that I wouldn’t have any fear when I started fencing again,” she concluded.
(Quotes sourced from The Bridge)
