India’s trailblazing Olympian and star sabre fencer C.A. Bhavani Devi has joined the Vijayi Bharat Foundation (VBF) as part of its High-Performance Fencing Programme, marking a significant boost for Indian fencing ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. The partnership is expected to strengthen both Bhavani’s preparations for upcoming international competitions and VBF’s long-term mission of developing the next generation of Indian fencers.
Bhavani Devi etched her name into Indian sporting history by becoming the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympic Games, representing the country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Widely regarded as India’s most accomplished sabre fencer, she has consistently delivered strong performances on the international stage, winning gold medals at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Fencing Championships and claiming a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Fencing Championships. At the Tokyo Olympics, she reached the Round of 32 in the women’s individual sabre event, creating a historic milestone for Indian fencing.
Her inclusion in the Vijayi Bharat Foundation’s elite programme is expected to provide invaluable experience to the organisation’s young athletes. With years of competing against some of the world’s best fencers, Bhavani brings technical expertise, international exposure and competitive experience that will help nurture VBF’s growing talent pipeline. The foundation has been actively investing in high-performance training to prepare Indian fencers for major international tournaments, including the Olympic Games and Asian Games.
Expressing her excitement about the collaboration, Bhavani Devi said she has closely followed the foundation’s progressive work in sports development, particularly in fencing. She added that she is looking forward to an exciting season with the support of the Vijayi Bharat Foundation and hopes the partnership will contribute to the continued growth of the sport in India.
Bhavani recently represented India at the Asian Senior Fencing Championships 2026, held in New Delhi, where seven other fencers supported by the Vijayi Bharat Foundation also competed. The participation of multiple VBF athletes at the continental championship reflects the organisation’s increasing presence in Indian fencing and its commitment to building a strong ecosystem for the sport.
With the Asian Games 2026 approaching, Bhavani Devi’s association with Vijayi Bharat Foundation is expected to play an important role in enhancing India’s medal prospects while also inspiring young athletes to pursue fencing at the highest level. As Indian fencing continues to gain momentum on the global stage, collaborations between elite athletes and high-performance development programmes are likely to become increasingly important in shaping the sport’s future.
Disclaimer: This report has been editorially prepared using publicly available information and agency inputs. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, unintentional errors or omissions may occur. Readers are encouraged to verify critical information from official sources.
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