July 3, 2023: Who's this sportsperson? Discover the details of her grand win and learn more about the sports - Fencing. A ReferencePepper!
Indian Olympian C.A. Bhavani Devi made history by winning India's first-ever medal in fencing, at the Asian Fencing Championships 2023 held in Wuxi, China.
On June 19th, she won a bronze medal in the women's sabre event. Although Bhavani lost a very close match in the semifinals against Zaynab Dayibekova from Uzbekistan, her achievement secured India's first medal in this event.
In a big surprise, Bhavani Devi defeated Misaki Emura, the current world champion from Japan, with a score of 15-10 in the quarterfinals. This was the first time Bhavani had ever beaten Misaki, and it made her happy.
Picture source: Twitter
The Asian Championships is a major sporting event that brings together athletes from different countries in Asia to compete in various sports disciplines. It is a platform where the best athletes in Asia showcase their skills and compete for top honours.
The championships cover a wide range of sports, including athletics, swimming, gymnastics, badminton, basketball, and many others. Participants represent their respective countries and vie for medals and titles.
The Asian Championships not only promote healthy competition but also foster cultural exchange and camaraderie among nations. It serves as a significant stage for athletes to demonstrate their talent and make their countries proud. The championships attract a large audience and generate excitement as spectators witness thrilling performances and witness new records being set.
About Fencing
In the sport of fencing, competitors, called fencers, compete against one another while using special swords called foils, epees, or sabres.
Fencers compete while wearing protective gear on a lengthy stretch of land known as a "piste." The goal is to earn points by utilizing the sword's tip or edge to make contact with the opponent's body.
It calls for expertise, planning, and rapid responses. Due to the elegant movements, precise attacks, and defensive manoeuvres used by fencers, fencing is renowned for its charm and accuracy. It's a sport that puts decision-making and cerebral agility to the test in addition to physical prowess.
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Fencing is governed by Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE). Today, its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. The FIE is composed of 145 national federations, each of which is recognised by its state Olympic Committee as the sole representative of Olympic-style fencing in that country.
Fencing was originally a form of military training and started to evolve into a sport in the 14th or 15th century in both Germany and Italy.
The most decorated fencer in Olympic history is Italy's Edoardo Mangiarotti who won six golds, five silver and two bronze medals at five Games despite his career being interrupted by World War II.
source: olympics.com
The objective of fencing is to score points by touching your opponent with your weapon while avoiding being touched yourself.
Let's start with the equipment. Fencers wear protective clothing, including a mask, a jacket, and pants, chest protector to ensure their safety during the match. The mask covers their face and has a mesh screen to protect the fencer's eyes and allow them to see. The jacket and pants are made of a strong material to prevent any injuries.
The protective gear of Fencers vary slightly depending on the sports - Foil, Epee or Sabre.
There are three different types of weapons used in fencing:
- Foil: The foil is a lightweight weapon with a flexible blade. It has a maximum overall length of 110 cm (3 feet 7 inches) and a maximum weight of 500 grams (about 17.5 ounces) with a blade up to 90 cm (2 feet 11 1/2 inches) long. Points are scored by touching the opponent's torso with the tip of the foil. Hits on other parts of the body do not count.
- Epee: The epee is a heavier weapon with a stiffer blade weighing 775 gms. (27.3373 oz) in weight and 110 cm (3.6 ft) in overall length, with a blade 90 cm (nearly 3 ft) long. In epee fencing, points can be scored by touching any part of the opponent's body with the tip of the epee. This means that hits on the arms and legs are also counted.
- Sabre: The sabre is a weapon with a flat blade and a guard to protect the hand. It is almost as heavy as a foil— i.e. up to 500 grams (about 17.5 ounces) in weight. It is slightly shorter—105 centimetres (3 feet 5 inches) with an overall length and the blade is 88 centimetres (2 feet 11 inches). In sabre fencing, points can be scored by touching any part of the opponent's body above the waist, including the head, arms, and torso. Sabre fencing is usually the fastest and most aggressive of the three weapons.
Now, let's talk about how a fencing match works. Fencing takes place on a long, narrow strip called a piste. The fencers start at opposite ends of the piste and try to score points by attacking and defending themselves. The piste is 14m long and 1.5m-2m wide. Retreating off the end of the piste results in a point to the opponent.
Picture source: Unsplash+In collaboration with Getty Images
The referee, called a director, oversees the match and ensures that the rules are followed.
Fencing is a game of strategy, speed, and precision. Fencers must try to outwit their opponents by anticipating their moves, using feints, and executing well-timed attacks. They also need to be quick on their feet to move in and out of striking distance while maintaining good balance.
Points are awarded based on which fencer lands a valid touch first. The scoring system varies slightly between the different weapons, but the basic idea is the same: you want to touch your opponent without being touched yourself. Fencers can also earn points by forcing their opponent to commit errors or penalties.
Fencing is not only a physically demanding sport but also a mental one. Fencers need to be focused, disciplined, and have good reflexes. It requires practice, strategy, and a lot of skill to become a successful fencer. People of all ages appreciate fencing because it is an exciting demonstration of athleticism and technique.
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Over 400 competitors from 20 nations competed in Wuxi from June 17 to 22 for a chance to represent Asia at the World Fencing Championships in Milan this year and to earn a spot in the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024.
Bhavani had always dreamt of defeating top-ranked players, and now her dream has finally come true. Her excellent performance in the Asian championships will motivate her for the upcoming World championships.
“It feels great to become the first Indian to win a bronze for the country at the Asian meet. Beating Misaki was huge because she is a good and consistent fencer. I had lost in round 16 to Misaki in the previous Asians, but I had a plan this time and it worked,” Bhavani Shared with The Hindu over the phone from Wuxi.
Bhavani Devi fought with all her strength in the last-four clash, but unfortunately, she lost. The score was tied at 14-14 when the referee penalised Bhavani with a red card for starting too early. Bhavani wanted to challenge the decision by requesting a video review, but the referee explained that video referrals are only allowed for situations involving blade contact. Earlier in the match, both Bhavani and her opponent had received yellow cards.
Bhavani, 29, is set to participate in the World Championships in Milan from July 22 to 30.