Covid-19-positive mother inspires fencer Bhavani Devi

Bhavani Devi

Bhavani Devi, who recently became India's first fencer to qualify at the Olympics, has revealed how her Coronavirus-positive mother, Ramani, motivated her to participate in the World Cup at Budapest, Hungary in March, from her hospital bed in Chennai.

Bhavani, 27, earned her Tokyo Olympics qualification by virtue of an improved world ranking of 42 in Budapest.

"My mother was admitted to hospital two months before the Budapest qualification event so I decided not to participate in it as I wanted to visit her. But she told me from her hospital bed, ‘Don't worry, I am okay. I am active and just need some rest and I will come back home soon. Just focus on your game.' So I did," Bhavani, who is currently training in Italy, said during a virtual media conference facilitated by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Wednesday.

"It's difficult sometimes to stay away from family, especially during these tough situations. But I realise that this is not just my dream but also my family's dream. And more than me, it is my parents who have worked hard for this. Back in 2013, I was feeling down and was unable to push myself to pursue the sport any further. Then too, it was my mother who encouraged me. My parents insisted that I should not quit the sport whatever the circumstances," added Bhavani.

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