Tamil Nadu’s CA Bhavani Devi has develop into the first ever Indian fencer to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games. The sabre fencer secured a spot within the World Cup in Hungary after the hosts misplaced within the quarterfinals of the workforce occasion, permitting South Korea to progress to the semi-final.
Bhavani Devi qualifies via the Adjusted Official Ranking (AOR) Method. Two particular person spots had been up for grabs for the Asia and Oceania area primarily based on the World Rankings as of April 5, 2021. She is ranked forty fifth and occupies one of many two out there slots primarily based on the rating.
The 27-year-old’s qualification shall be confirmed when the rankings are made official on the aforementioned date.
“It is a historic moment as @IamBhavaniDevi becomes the 1st ever fencer from India to qualify for the @Olympics in women’s individual sabre on basis of Adjusted Official ranking at the Men’s and Women’s Sabre World Cup in Budapest. Many congratulations!” Sports Authority of India tweeted.
.@IamBhavaniDevi who created historical past by changing into the first Indian fencer to qualify for the @Olympics can also be a SAI trainee and has been groomed by SAI coach #SagarLagu at STC Thalassery. #JeetengeOlympics #Fencing pic.twitter.com/lZoakE6saC
— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) March 14, 2021
Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju congratulated Bhavani Devi on her qualifying for the Olympics.
“Congratulations to Indian fencer Bhavani Devi who has qualified for Tokyo Olympics! She has become the 1st ever Indian fencer to achieve the feat. My best wishes to @IamBhavaniDevi,” he tweeted.
Congratulations to Indian fencer Bhavani Devi who has certified for Tokyo Olympics! She has develop into the first ever Indian fencer to obtain the feat. My greatest wished to @IamBhavaniDevi pic.twitter.com/NFGJzuB4Dx
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) March 14, 2021
The eight-time nationwide champion had failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics. However, she stepped up efforts to safe qualification for the Tokyo video games and continued to practice in Italy underneath coach Nicola Zanotti earlier than the COVID-19-induced shutdown halted the qualification course of.
The Tokyo Olympics scheduled to be held in 2020 had been postpone owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and are scheduled to happen from July 23 to August 8 this yr. SAI coach Sagar Lagu, who educated Bhavani Devi on the SAI centre in Thalassery, Kerala from 2008 to 2015, mentioned she had certified due to her laborious work and dedication.
“I am delighted for her. She was trying to qualify for the Olympics from 2012. This is the first time any Indian fencer has qualified for the Olympics,” he mentioned.
“It is due to her hard work and dedication that she has secured qualification for the Tokyo games,” Lagu added.
Recalling her struggles early within the profession, he mentioned Bhavani Devi didn’t quit throughout powerful instances early (in her fencing profession) and labored laborious to obtain her targets. “She went through tough times but hard work gave her the results. She did not give up though she faced hard times early in her career to achieve her goals,” he mentioned of Bhavani Devi, who’s coaching in Italy presently.
Bhavani Devi, who’s the first Indian fencer to win gold at a global occasion, didn’t let the COVID-19 enforced lockdown have an effect on her preparations and had educated with coach Zanotti having on-line classes.
