Know your athlete: Tendenthoi Devi Haobijam's rowing journey to Nagoya

Tendenthoi Devi Haobijam returns to the Asian Games three years after making her international debut as a junior who was still searching for confidence. This time, the 23-year-old Indian rower heads to Aichi-Nagoya with greater experience, a stronger bond with her teammates and a belief that she can make a bigger impact.

Tendenthoi will compete in the women’s four alongside Poonam, Aleena Anto and Gurbani Kaur, with the heats scheduled for September 20 at 7:10 am IST at the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course. The quartet has trained and competed together since last year, giving them time to understand each other better and develop as a unit.

Her first Asian Games in 2023 came when she was still learning what it meant to compete at the international level. Speaking ahead of her second appearance, Tendenthoi admitted that while her performance was good, she did not have the confidence she has now.

“My first international competition was the Asian Games in 2023. My performance was good, but I wasn’t very confident because I was still a junior at that time. I had to learn a lot from the seniors and take their advice,” she said.

Three years later, the difference is not just in experience but also in the way Tendenthoi approaches competition. Consistent training with her crew, overseas camps and international competitions have helped her understand how to manage pressure and perform as part of a team.

The biggest change for Tendenthoi has been the time spent building chemistry with her teammates. Having trained together since last year, the crew has developed a better understanding of each other's strengths and learned how to respond together under pressure. Consistent crew training has changed Tendenthoi approach.

“This time, we got the chance to practise together for a long time. We have been together since last year, so we got to know each other better and got the chance to grow together. That has given us a lot of confidence,” she said.

The crew's preparation has also taken them beyond India. Training camps in Australia and Europe, followed by international competitions, gave the rowers valuable experience of dealing with different conditions and the pressure of racing together.

“We went to Australia for a camp and also spent a lot of time in Europe. We had the chance to compete in two or three competitions there, and we learnt a lot, how to manage a competition, how to handle pressure, how to perform with confidence and how to perform together as a crew,” she added.THE IIS DIFFERENCE

Tendenthoi's development has also been shaped by her time at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), where she has trained throughout the year. The high-performance environment has given her access to support in areas beyond rowing, including nutrition, physiology and psychology.

“There have been a lot of changes after coming to IIS. Earlier, we used to compete with each other, but after coming here, we feel more confident and feel that we can do much more,” she said.

Her journey at IIS has also brought her closer to coach Lakshmi, whom Tendenthoi admired even before taking up rowing. She had watched Lakshmi compete at the Asian Games and bring recognition to the state, and says that journey inspired her own sporting ambitions.

“I have known Lakshmi since around 2007-08. I had seen her practise and seen how she brought a lot of recognition to the state. She had competed at the Asian Games, and I was inspired by her even before I started rowing,” she said.

Tendenthoi's introduction to rowing was closely connected to her family and her early exposure to water sports. Growing up near a club in Bishnupur district, she and her sister participated in water sports before she eventually took up rowing.

Her parents have remained a constant source of encouragement, particularly when training meant spending long periods away from home.

“Ever since I joined rowing, my parents have supported me a lot. They always told me that I could go far if I practised hard and stayed disciplined,” she said.

Her sister has also given her a simple target to carry into Aichi-Nagoya.

“She believes that I can win a medal at the Asian Games,” Tendenthoi said.

That belief captures how much has changed since 2023. The junior who once relied on the experience of seniors now returns with years of international exposure, a crew she knows well and a support system that has helped her believe in what she can achieve.

Now, on September 20, Tendenthoi and her crew will get their chance to turn that confidence into performance on the Asian Games stage.- EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Sep 18, 2026 15:47 IST