A difficult sport requiring focus, these gems are doing wonders
More commonly referred to as ‘talwarbaazi’ in India, fencing is an age-old sport that has existed since the early 1900s. Fencing is categorized as a combat sport and was one of the first sports to be played in the Olympics. It is broadly based on the traditional skills of swordsmanship. At present, there are three forms of modern fencing - foil, épée, and sabre - each of which uses a different kind of weapon and has different rules. Believe it or not, sportspersons from India have been playing a huge role in this sport putting the country on the international map of fencing despite its late initiation in India in 1974. And it took the established Fencing Association of India another 23 years to be recognised by the Indian government.
Currently there are 30 state associations affiliated with the Fencing Association of India, with headquarters in Patiala, Punjab. So let us take a look at the famous Indian fencers making the nation proud internationally.
ChadalavadaAnandhaSundhararamanBhavani Devi An Indian sabre fencer, Devi is the first Indian fencer to ever qualify for the Olympics after qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics. An eight-time national champion, starting from the Bronze medal at 2009 CommonWealth Championship, followed by more bronze medals in 2010 International Open; 2010 Cadet Asian Championship; 2012 CommonWealth Championship; 2015 Under-23 Asian Championship and 2015 Flemish Open. She is also the first Indian to win a silver medal in the 2014 Asian Championship in the Philippines. Bhavani Devi has received 2 Gold Medals, one each at the 2012 Commonwealth Championship, Jersey, and the 2014 Tuscany Cup, Italy.
Devi made history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal at the senior Commonwealth Fencing Championship in Canberra in the sabre event. As of April 2021, she ranks 42nd in the world.
Kabita Devi Hailing from Assam, Devi is ranked 100th in women's senior epee with 14.75 points. Recently, Devi won two gold medals at the South Asian Games (SAF) Games held in Nepal.
Gisho Nidhi A fencer fromTamil Nadu, Gisho is the highest-ranked, 143, Indian fencer in the men's Sabre category
Among the upcoming talents in fencing isChingakhamJetlee Singh - 19-year-old ranks at 48th in the world in men's junior epee. At the 2016 Asian Junior Cadet Fencing Championship in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Karan Singh won the bronze medal in the Junior Boys Sabre event, while SN Siva Mahesh, won a silver medal in the Cadet Boys Epee event.
