Indian Fencer Bhavani Devi Is Confident That More Women Will Make A Career In Sports

Fencer Bhavani Devi on more women taking up sports: Indian fencer Bhavani Devi is confident about more women making a career in sports.

She spoke about how sports is still viewed as a career option for men, and not women. "Sports in India is still considered as men's career and not for women. Now it's slowly getting changed after the achievements of P.V. Sindhu, Saina Nehwal P.T USHA, etc but still, the numbers are less. I am sure now on women will take sports as a career," she said.

Indian fencer Bhavani Devi talks thanks her family for supporting her

The 27-year-old fencer has become the first Indian fencer to qualify for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics through the Adjusted Official Ranking (AOR) method. She expressed her joy in qualifying and spoke about how she struggled during her early years. "I am happy to become the first Indian and woman to qualify for the Olympic games in fencing. There had been a lot of struggle in the beginning but since I had faced a lot of obstacles and had overcome those with the help of my family, " she said.

Bhavani Devi also spoke about benefitting from the Tamil Nadu scholarship (sports) scheme which helped her in becoming a successful fencer. "In Tamil Nadu, we have a scholarship scheme to prepare for the Olympics. In 2016, I was selected for this scheme. I was happy that they choose an athlete for fencing," she added.

She then added that the Sports Authority of India, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu and Ministry of Sports are giving priority to fencing. She expressed her gratitude towards Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju who had congratulatefld her after she successfully qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.

A week ago, fencer Bhavani Devi entered the semifinals of the Women's Sabre Individual competition in the 31st Senior National Fencing Championships at the Delhi Public School.