This year India has had one of the most splendid performances in the Olympics. From clinching Gold in Javelin to Bronze in Weightlifting, the laurels Indian players brought to the country have been tremendous. What makes this year even more remarkable is the fact that there have been many sportsmen and women who have qualified and achieved wonders in games that were never opted and reached before.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lauded India's first-ever fencer in the Olympics CA Bhavani Devi for her commendable performance in Tokyo. She became the Indian fencing player to win a match at the Olympics after registering a confident 15-3 win against Tunisia's Nadia Ben Azizi. However, in the next round, she bumped into Rio Olympics semi-finalist Frenchwoman Manon Brunet, where she lost 7-15.

After getting knocked out from the Tokyo Games, the Indian fencer took to Twitter and apologised for not making it to the next level.

Bhavani Devi, the first Indian fencer to win a round at the Olympics, went out with her head held high as she fought well against France’s Manon Brunet 7-15 in a Round of 32 matches of the women’s individual sabre competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday.

Bhavani Devi, from Chennai who had outplayed Nadia Ben Azizi of Tunisia 15-3 to advance, put up a good fight as Manon, the World No. 3 from France who narrowly missed a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics five years ago, was too strong.

“Big Day. It was Excitement & Emotional. I won the first match 15/3 against Nadia Azizi and become the first Indian fencing player to win a match at the Olympics but 2nd match I lost 7/15 against world top 3 player Manon Brunet. I did my level best but couldn’t win. I am sorry," she tweeted.

The first-ever fencer to represent India at the Olympics also became the first to win a bout at the Games as CA Bhavani Devi made a winning start to her historic Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 on Monday.

Bhavani Devi, 27, making her Games debut showcased nerves of steel as she was in complete control of her Women’s Sabre Individual Table of 64 bouts, beating Tunisia's Nadia Ben Azizi 15-3. Despite a delay in the start to their bout, Bhavani Devi kept her composure and raced to an 8-0 lead. Yes, you read that right!

Indian fencer Bhavani Devi put up an inspired show on her Olympic debut before bowing out in the second round of the women’s individual sabre at Tokyo 2020 on Monday.

It nevertheless marked a historic day as India made their debut in fencing in the Olympics, a discipline that has featured at the Summer Games since 1896.

Up against the world No. 3 and Rio Olympian Manon Brunet of France, Bhavani Devi was left playing catch up as the former world championships silver medallist registered a 15-7 win progress in the Round of 16 at the Makuhari Messe Hall.

When Dipa Karmakar famously attempted the death-defying Produnova at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the world was abuzz with news on how close the gymnastics scoring margins were for the women's finals. She came agonizingly close to winning a medal and was only about 0.800 away from gold medalist Simon Biles. But little did Dipa know that she had kickstarted a worldwide trend of curious sports fans searching the term 'Produnova'. Something similar might also happen this year with Fencing at the Tokyo Olympics. 'Sabre' should be kept in mind as a new word to be added for Indian sport fans to learn. Bhavani Devi will be taking part in it and will have the country watching and egging her on in every manner possible.

Fencing is one of the five sports that has been a part of every Olympic campaign since 1896. However, India's Bhavani Devi will be the first Indian fencer to make an Olympic appearance at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Editor's Note: For five years now, Indian athletes have been dreaming to make up for the disappointment of a two-medal haul in Rio. The span has been extraordinary, with COVID-19 having thrown their preparations - and the Olympics itself - off gear. However, in true Olympic spirit, the country's finest sportspersons have battled form and uncertainty to put their best foot forward in what promises to be a Games like none other. In our latest series, we track the last two years' performances of our athletes to give you a ready guide to their form leading into the biggest sporting spectacle of the world.

For five years now, Indian athletes have been dreaming to make up for the disappointment of a two-medal haul in Rio. The span has been extraordinary, with COVID-19 having thrown their preparations - and the Olympics itself - off gear. However, in true Olympic spirit, the country's finest sportspersons have battled form and uncertainty to put their best foot forward in what promises to be a Games like none other. In our latest series, we track the last two years' performances of our athletes to give you a ready guide to their form leading into the biggest sporting spectacle of the world.

Fencing happened out of compulsion for the Tokyo Olympic-bound C A Bhavani Devi. From choosing the sport at school as that was the only option left for her, to qualifying for the Olympics, it has been one memorable as well as an arduous journey for Bhavani. The 27-year-old from Chennai, who made history by becoming the first fencer from India to make it to the Olympic Games, trained extensively in Italy and is heading to Tokyo in a positive frame of mind.

"Training has gone very well. I am working hard and preparing well for my first Olympic Games. Took part in some camps with the Italian national team where other international fencers too joined. I also trained in France," she told PTI in an interaction.

From being on the verge of quitting the sport to becoming the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics, life has come a long way for CA Bhavani Devi. MUMBAI: From being on the verge of quitting the sport to becoming the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics, life has come a long way for CA Bhavani Devi. Bhavani, who took up fencing during her school days to avoid classes, qualified for the individual sabre section following the Adjusted Official Ranking (AOR) Method employed after she could not participate in the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying event due to COVID-19 restrictions. Two individual spots were up for grabs for the Asia-Oceania region based on the world rankings as of April 5, 2021, and Bhavani ranked 45th at that time bagged one of the slots. Her best ranking ever is 36 she achieved in 2017....

CHENNAI: Bhavani Devi is the first Indian fencer ever to qualify for Olympics, but her entry into the sport way back in her school days was "accidental".
During her days at Muruga Dhanushkodi Girls School --- at Tondiarpet back in 2004 --- Bhavani took up fencing because there was no vacancy in other disciplines. When Bhavani enrolled for fencing, she was alerted by her teachers that it was a costly affair, but she was ready to take the plunge.