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CHENNAI: For the last few months, two things have been a constant companion for fencer Bhavani Devi — her dummy sparring partner which she created during the lockdown and the mobile phone she uses to get online classes from her Italian coach Nicola Zanotti.
With the Nehru Indoor stadium allowing national and state-level athletes to train for the last few weeks, Bhavani has been making use of it about 4 times a week to meet her training needs. On other days, she focuses on fitness and rehabilitation exercises.
“I feel I am training at about 50% of my capacity currently. Online classes with my coach help me stay in touch with the game but I miss training with a real partner. In my training sessions, I will be the only person moving while the dummy stays put at one place. Earlier it used to be strange, but I am used to it now,” Bhavani told TOI.
With a few countries in Europe opening up for fencers to train in the coming weeks, Bhavani is itching to head back to her base — Livorno, Italy. But with the Italian embassy in India yet to formally resume its operations, Bhavani has little choice but to continue training here. “If I go to Italy from India, I will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period after reaching there. I am hoping that the situation becomes better in the coming days,” she said.
Bhavani — on the verge of qualifying for the Olympics — believes it will take her a few weeks to assess where she is once full-fledged training commences. “Only after the full-bound practice sessions begin with my coach in person — will I know where I stand in terms of my match-readiness. I feel the fencing tournaments may take time to start. Till then, fencers across the world will have to only do with training and staying fit,” she said.
In a bid to connect with her fans, Bhavani launched her own website on World fencing day — September 13. “The main purpose of the website (bhavanidevi.com) was to inspire more and more people to take up fencing as a sport,” the 27-year-old said. The site was launched by Dr Kiran Bedi, Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry along with FAI president Rajiv Mehta.
With the Nehru Indoor stadium allowing national and state-level athletes to train for the last few weeks, Bhavani has been making use of it about 4 times a week to meet her training needs. On other days, she focuses on fitness and rehabilitation exercises.
“I feel I am training at about 50% of my capacity currently. Online classes with my coach help me stay in touch with the game but I miss training with a real partner. In my training sessions, I will be the only person moving while the dummy stays put at one place. Earlier it used to be strange, but I am used to it now,” Bhavani told TOI.
With a few countries in Europe opening up for fencers to train in the coming weeks, Bhavani is itching to head back to her base — Livorno, Italy. But with the Italian embassy in India yet to formally resume its operations, Bhavani has little choice but to continue training here. “If I go to Italy from India, I will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period after reaching there. I am hoping that the situation becomes better in the coming days,” she said.
Bhavani — on the verge of qualifying for the Olympics — believes it will take her a few weeks to assess where she is once full-fledged training commences. “Only after the full-bound practice sessions begin with my coach in person — will I know where I stand in terms of my match-readiness. I feel the fencing tournaments may take time to start. Till then, fencers across the world will have to only do with training and staying fit,” she said.
In a bid to connect with her fans, Bhavani launched her own website on World fencing day — September 13. “The main purpose of the website (bhavanidevi.com) was to inspire more and more people to take up fencing as a sport,” the 27-year-old said. The site was launched by Dr Kiran Bedi, Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry along with FAI president Rajiv Mehta.
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