Mumbai: Bhavani Devi has carved her path to success in the world of fencing, becoming India's top-ranked fencer and an inspiration to aspiring athletes nationwide. At the Asian Fencing Championships in China recently, Bhavani scripted history by beating Japan’s Misaki Emura, the current World No. one, to win the bronze medal. She became India’s first fencer to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 and was conferred with the Arjuna Award for her unwavering determination and groundbreaking achievements. In addition, Bhavani is the only Indian to enter the Top 50 of the world rankings.

Bhavani Devi expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying, "I am delighted to sign with Baseline Ventures, who are known for their commitment to athletes' growth. With their support and guidance, I am confident that I can unlock new avenues to showcase my skills and achieve my goals and aspirations as a professional athlete”.

Baseline Ventures MD & co-founder Tuhin Mishra welcomed Bhavani and said, "We are thrilled to welcome Bhavani Devi to the Baseline family. Bhavani's achievements as India's top fencer are truly remarkable, and she embodies the spirit of determination and perseverance. We are confident that her talent, combined with our expertise, will pave the way for exciting opportunities”.

Born and raised in Chennai, Bhavani Devi discovered her passion for fencing at a young age. Introduced to the sport during a school demonstration, she was captivated by the elegance, precision, and strategic nature of fencing. Notably, she became the first Indian fencer to win a gold medal at an international event (the 2017 Tournoi Satellite Fencing Championship in Iceland). Since then, she has gone on to win multiple medals on the global stage, in the Women’s Individual Sabre discipline. Bhavani Devi will be one to watch the Asian Games later this year, having secured her qualification at the National Trials recently.