Tokyo 2020: Bhavani Devi loses to France’s Manon Brunet in fencing

CA Bhavani Devi, India’s first-ever Olympic fencer who won the country’s maiden bout earlier today, crashed out of the women’s individual sabre event after losing to France’s Manon Brunet on Monday. The 27-year-old lost 15-7 to world number 3 Brunet, who finished fourth in the individual event at the Rio Olympics, in the Table of 32 round.

The trailblazing fencer made her Olympics bow with a thumping win against Tunisia’s Nadia Ben Azizi, defeating the 19-year-old 15-3 in the Table of 64 round, before being outclassed by the Frenchwoman. 

While Devi’s aggression saw her scoring points for fun against Azizi, Brunet countered her tactics with a much more prudent approach. She scored points from distance, had a sharper, better technique and forced Devi out of the arena twice, costing her as many points. 

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Devi scored just one point each in the first two periods, and it was too little too late as she trailed 2-8 going into the third and final period, where she mounted a fightback. Devi scored five points in the final period, but conceding another seven with the match was wrapped up in nine minutes and 48 seconds. 

In the opening round though, Chennai’s Bhavani was a better player, taking advantage of Azizi’s open stance that allowed her score points quickly.

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Bhavani did not concede a single point in the first three-minute period and raced to a commanding 8-0 lead against the Tunisian.

Nadia managed some touches in the second period but the Indian kept building her lead to win the contest in six minutes and 14 seconds.

The fencer who touches the 15 point-mark first, is declared winner.