Olympic athlete C A Bhavani Devi made history on June 19 by clinching India's inaugural medal, a bronze, at the Asian Fencing Championships in Wuxi, China. Despite a hard-fought battle in the semifinals, Bhavani fell short by a single point, losing to Uzbekistan's Zaynab Dayibekova with a score of 14-15. However, her outstanding performance ensured India's entry into the medal tally for the first time in this esteemed competition.

Bhavani's remarkable journey to the podium began with a stunning upset in the quarterfinals, where she defeated reigning world champion Misaki Emura from Japan with a score of 15-10. Misaki had claimed the gold medal in women's sabre at the 2022 World Fencing Championships, held in Cairo. This victory was particularly significant for Bhavani as she had previously faced defeat in all her encounters with the Japanese champion.

The 29-year-old fencer received a bye in the round of 64, subsequently defeating Dospay Karina from Kazakhstan in the following round. In a thrilling pre-quarterfinal match, Bhavani upset the third seed, Ozaki Seri, with a score of 15-11. These wins showcased her skill, determination, and progress as a formidable competitor.

Rajeev Mehta, the Secretary-General of the Fencing Association of India, expressed his pride and admiration for Bhavani's historic achievement. He acknowledged that she had accomplished what no other Indian fencer had before, becoming the first to secure a medal at the prestigious Asian Championships. Mehta extended his heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the entire fencing community.

Although Bhavani fell short of a medal at the Tokyo Olympics, where she became the first Indian fencer to qualify, her performance at the Asian Fencing Championships demonstrated a significant improvement. This medal showcased her remarkable progress and marked a memorable milestone in Indian fencing history.