Bhavani Devi all geared up for World fencing championships beginning July 26
Like a true professional, she, however, quickly regrouped and has been fervently with her coach Christian Bauer in Padua (Italy) despite results not being favourable in quite a few tournaments.
Never a quitter, the 31-year-old is gearing up to put her best foot forward in the individual women's sabre event of the World fencing championships to be held at Tbilisi (Georgia) from July 26 (Worlds are from July 22 to 30).
'This is going to be my fifth World championships in the senior category. I want this to be my best. My best result in Worlds was reaching the round-of-16 in the 2019 edition. I am looking forward to my event on 26th,' said Bhavani to The Hindu in a recent interaction from Padua.
Training with Bauer, Bhavani said has been an experience in itself. 'He is a strict taskmaster. He is one of the best coaches in the world. It's not easy to train under him. We have to learn and adapt quickly. Our working relationship is getting better,' she said.
In the last 12 months, Bhavani has participated in two Asian championships, in Kuwait and Bali, four World Cups in Oran (Algeria), Greece, Peru and Sint-Niklaas (Belgium) and two Grand Prix in Seoul (South Korea) and Tunisia. Her best has been reaching the round of 32 in Oran.
While admitting that her performance has not been great, Bhavani insisted she is slowly getting to her best.
'I feel in the last three competitions, there has been improvements, especially after the Asian championship in Bali (from June 17 to 23 2025; Bhavani reached the pre-quarterfinals). I felt as if I was playing well as I did during training sessions. Mentally and physically, I am feeling better,' the Tokyo Olympian and the first fencer from India to make it to the quadrennial event, said.
Bhavani, the 12-time Senior National champion, said it took time for her to come to terms with not being able to make the cut to the Paris Olympics. She said her faith in the process kept her going, the nagging shoulder problem notwithstanding.
'I had pain in my (right) shoulder during the 2024 Asian championships. There were few who suggested I go for surgery. In August-September 2024, I did rehab in Bengaluru under physiotherapist Yash Pandey. I focused on my recovery and am perfectly fine now,' she said, while thanking Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu for its continued support.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Vindu Dara Singh on tensions between India and Pakistan: "Neighbouring state needs to realise..."
Amid the prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, actor Vindu Dara Singh called out the neighbouring nation's role in fostering terrorism . Actor reacts to Asia Cup fixture "... We all know whatever has been going on but sports is a different field... Pakistan needs to realise that they are losing out by doing wrong to India... We want peace but they need to initiate this time. They are the ones who cause the problem. India has never attacked any country first. Shame on those people in Pakistan who support terrorism," Vindu Dara Singh expressed his views, weighing in on the ongoing debate over the recently announced India vs Pakistan Asia Cup fixture under the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to take place in the UAE, with the tournament featuring top Asian teams, including India and Pakistan. The decision to hold the tournament in a neutral country was made due to the deteriorating relations between the two nations.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Tour de France finale brings excitement to Montmartre with a climb to Sacré-Coeur
A cycling frenzy swept through Montmartre on Sunday as tens of thousands of fans greeted Tour de France riders during the final stage of the sport's biggest race. HT Image Hours before the peloton was due to arrive, spectators had already packed the Parisian neighborhood — once bohemian, now bustling with tourists — eager to secure a prime spot to watch riders climb the iconic hill during the final stage of the race. When the peloton finally neared the steep and cobbled Rue Lepic, the area erupted into a deafening roar. The Tour broke with tradition this year as organizers looked to build on the popular success of the Paris Olympic road race. During last year's Olympics, massive crowds lined the streets of Montmartre — the area in northern Paris famous for its artistic heritage and sweeping city views — to cheer on riders. Inspired by the frenetic atmosphere, Tour organizers decided to include the Montmartre climb in this summer's route. And it paid off. Spectators began arriving early Sunday on the Rue Lepic, well before Tadej Pogačar — who won his fourth Tour title on Sunday — and his rivals were expected to tackle the steep ascent. Fans also filled the stairs beneath the Sacré-Coeur to ensure they didn't miss a moment of the action. The festive atmosphere echoed with clapping and songs from enthusiastic fans. 'La, la, la, la, la, la, la Kevin Vauquelin!' chanted some spectators in polka-dot T-shirts winding up Rue Lepic, cheering the French rider best placed in the general classification. Meanwhile, others took to the street on their alpine skis for a moment of fun, having put their winter sports equipment out. Riders ascended the hill three times and passed beneath the Sacré-Coeur basilica before heading to the finish on the Champs-Élysées. Despite the rain making the roads slippery and dangerous, Pogačar attacked on all three ascents but he couldn't respond when stage winner Wout van Aert countered him. The peloton passed the Moulin Rouge before climbing to the Butte Montmartre. To mark the occasion, dancers in tricolor costumes performed a French Cancan outside the cabaret. Traditionally, the final stage is largely processional until a sprint decides the day's winner on the Champs-Elysées. But on Sunday, the final climb came about 7 kilometers from the finish and sprinters could not contend for the stage win. Only five riders were left with Pogačar on the third ascension of the 1.1-kilomete hill. During the Olympics, the road races drew more than 500,000 spectators in Paris. Last year's Tour concluded outside Paris for the first time since 1905 because of a scheduling conflict with the Olympics, with the final stage held in Nice. The Champs-Élysées returned this year for the conclusion of the 3,320-kilometer (2,060-mile) race. ___ AP cycling:
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Indian Express
Rishabh Pant ruled out of 5th IND vs ENG Test at the Oval due to fractured foot
Swashbuckling India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was on Sunday ruled out of the fifth and final Test at the Oval due to the injury he suffered in Manchester earlier in the week. N Jagadeesan was named as his replacement. This comes after India kept the series alive after tons from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar guided the visitors to a draw in the 4th Test. 'Rishabh Pant ruled out of fifth Test due to injury; N Jagadeesan named replacement,' the BCCI said in an X post on Sunday. 'Rishabh Pant, who sustained a fracture to his right foot during the fourth Test against England in Manchester, has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test of the series. The BCCI Medical Team will continue to monitor his progress and the team wishes him a speedy recovery. The Men's Selection Committee has named Narayan Jagadeesan as replacement for Rishabh Pant for the fifth Test, which begins on July 31, 2025 at Kennington Oval, London,' a statement from the board read. 🚨 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 🚨 Rishabh Pant ruled out of fifth Test due to injury; N Jagadeesan named replacement. All The Details 🔽 #TeamIndia | #ENGvIND — BCCI (@BCCI) July 27, 2025 Pant fractured his toe while attempting a reverse sweep on Day 1, which led to him having to retire hurt. He then remarkably continued his innings while batting almost on one foot and scored 54 in 75 balls. Pant was advised six weeks of rest and was expected to not travel to the ground on Day 2. However, he was eventually spotted in the dressing room in full gear and he then hobbled out after Shardul Thakur was dismissed shortly before Lunch. On Day 5, the keeper wasn't required to bat due to Jadeja and Sundar's gritty knocks which ended the 4th Test in a stalemate. Jadeja, Sundar and Shubman Gill struck fine hundreds as India secured the morale-boosting draw. The stalemate was achieved after Gill (103), Rahul (90), Jadeja (107 not out), and Washington (101 not out) fired with the bat on a fifth day pitch after India started their second innings 311 runs in arrears. England lead the series 2-1 heading into the fifth and final Test. For skipper Gill, this was his fourth century of the ongoing rubber as he became the first Asian batter to cross 700 runs in a Test series in England. Earlier in the day, opener Rahul was dismissed by Ben Stokes for a doughty 90, ending a 188-run partnership for the third wicket with Gill. Resuming the day on 174 for two and with a deficit of 137 runs, overnight batter Gill completed his hundred before falling to Jofra Archer just before lunch at Old Trafford.
