How Poonam turned a rowing scholarship opportunity into an Asian Games dream

For Poonam, rowing started as a way to continue her education. She never imagined that the decision would eventually take her to the Asian Games.

When she first picked up an oar, Poonam was not chasing an international sporting career. She was looking for an opportunity to pursue her graduation through sport. Years later, that decision has taken her to the national camp and given her the chance to represent India at the Asian Games in the Women’s Coxless Four.

“I started rowing because I got the opportunity to get admission for my graduation through sport. At that time, I never thought that rowing would become my career. I just wanted to make use of the opportunity and see where it could take me,” she said.

Having previously competed in athletics, Poonam was keen to find better sporting opportunities after being limited by the facilities available in her district. Rowing offered her that opening in Chandigarh.

At first, her targets were modest. She wanted to establish herself at the university level and then test herself against the country's best. Each milestone, however, made her dream bigger.

“Initially, my dream was to win a gold medal at the inter-college and university level. Then I wanted to win a medal at the Senior Nationals. Slowly, my goals started getting bigger. We have won gold medals at the Nationals, Senior Nationals and National Games, and now I am at the Asian Games,” she said.

The transition from an opportunity to a serious sporting career has been shaped by the environments in which Poonam has trained. Her stint at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) over the past year has given her access to a support system that goes beyond the boat and the water.

Alongside rowing, Poonam has access to nutrition, physiology and psychological support, elements that have helped her become more confident in her preparation.

“There have been a lot of changes after coming to Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS). I have been part of their rowing programme for the past one year. We get a lot of support here, and the staff takes care of our nutrition, physiology and psychology. Because of this environment, we feel more confident and feel that we can do much more,” she said.

That belief has also grown through the time she has spent with her teammates. The crew has trained together consistently since last year after working towards earning a place in the national camp.

In rowing, individual ability can only take an athlete so far. Timing, rhythm and trust have to come together, with every member of the crew responding to the same movement.

“We have spent a lot of time training together, and that has helped us understand each other better. In rowing, everyone has to move together and maintain the same rhythm. The more time we spend together, the more confident we become as a crew.”

The consistency of that preparation has given Poonam another reason to approach the Asian Games with belief.

“I am feeling very good about going to the Asian Games. We had been working towards getting into the camp for the last few years, and we have been able to stay together and train consistently since last year. That has helped us improve a lot and has given me a lot of confidence,” she said.EUROPE CHANGED WHAT SHE SAW

If training together has strengthened the crew, competing overseas has changed Poonam's perspective on where they stand internationally.

A training stint in Europe exposed her to strong rowing teams and, more importantly, the pressure that comes with racing against them. The experience helped her understand that the gap she once perceived was not as wide as she had imagined.

“Our Europe trip was very good because we learnt how to handle pressure and control our nervousness during a race. Earlier, when we saw the European teams, we used to think about when we would be able to beat them. But after competing with them, we realised that we are not very far behind. We can compete with them,” she added.

That realisation has given Poonam a different mindset heading into the Asian Games. Instead of simply measuring herself against an unfamiliar international field, she now has the experience of racing against strong opposition.

It is another example of how her ambitions have evolved. The athlete who once hoped to win at university level now finds herself thinking about international medals and, further ahead, Olympic qualification.FINDING MUSIC IN EVERY STROKE

For all the pressure surrounding elite competition, Poonam's connection with rowing remains rooted in something much simpler: she enjoys being in the boat.

She finds a rhythm in the sport that makes long sessions pass almost unnoticed. Every part of the stroke has its own movement, and staying attuned to those details keeps her engaged.

“Every stroke feels like music. The catch is different, the finish is different and the movement of the boat is different. We don't get bored because we are so involved in it. Sometimes we keep rowing for one or two hours and don't even realise how much time has passed,” she said.

That sense of rhythm now has a bigger purpose. At the Asian Games, Poonam will join fellow IIS-supported rowers Tendenthoi Devi, Aleena Anto and Gurbani Kaur in the Women’s Coxless Four, with a medal in sight.

For someone who initially picked up an oar simply because it opened a door to higher education, the journey has taken an unexpected turn.

The scholarship gave Poonam an opportunity. Competition gave her ambition. International racing gave her belief. And the time spent building a crew has given her confidence in what they can achieve together.

Now, the Asian Games offer another chance to see just how far that first opportunity can take her.- EndsPublished By: sabyasachi chowdhuryPublished On: Sep 18, 2026 17:02 IST