Indian rower Poonam is gearing up for her first-ever appearance at the Asian Games, where she will compete in the Women's Four event at Aichi-Nagoya. The journey from an accidental entry into the sport to representing India on Asia's biggest multi-sport stage is a story of steadily expanding ambitions and hard-won confidence.

An Accidental Beginning

Poonam originally started out as an athletics competitor before switching to rowing — not out of passion, but practicality. '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.

The early phase was far from smooth. Limited coaching resources and the challenge of adapting to a new sporting environment meant she kept her initial goals modest, targeting success at the inter-college and university levels before daring to dream bigger.

Goals That Grew With Experience

'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.

That progression — from campus competitions to continental games — reflects a deliberate, step-by-step build rather than a sudden breakthrough. Notably, this kind of structured ambition is increasingly common among Indian rowers who come through the university sport pipeline.

Training at Inspire Institute of Sport

Poonam has been part of the rowing programme at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) for the past one year, and credits the facility with transforming her preparation. 'There have been a lot of changes after coming to IIS. 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.

The holistic approach — combining physical conditioning with sports psychology — reflects the kind of professionalised support structure that Indian rowing has increasingly sought to build ahead of major international competitions.

European Training Stint Shifts Mindset

A training exposure trip to Europe proved to be a turning point for Poonam's competitive outlook. She returned convinced that the gap between Indian and European rowers is far smaller than it once appeared. '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 said.

This comes amid a broader push by Indian rowing federations and training academies to expose athletes to international competition ahead of marquee events — a strategy that has yielded measurable confidence gains for the Women's Four crew.

Crew Chemistry and the Joy of Rowing

Poonam also highlighted how sustained time training together has deepened the crew's on-water synchronisation. '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,' she said.

Beyond the medals and the milestones, it is the sensory experience of the sport that now defines her relationship with rowing. '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 added.

With the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya now within reach, Poonam and the Indian Women's Four will look to translate consistent training, continental exposure, and hard-won crew chemistry into a result that marks the next chapter of her rapidly evolving career.