Completed Event: Rowing versus ACC Championships on May 15, 2026 , , 7th/69 points
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Final
Rowing
vs ACC Championships
Duke Rowing Recruit Spotlight: Vaya Chhabra
1/13/2022 11:50:00 AM | Rowing
DURHAM – Head Coach Megan Cooke Carcagno and the Duke rowing program are excited to announce the addition of Vaya Chhabra, who will compete for the Blue Devils in the 2022-23 season.
A native of Charlottesville, Va., Chhabra currently attends St. Anne's-Belfield School and competes for the Rivanna Rowing Club. In 2021, she placed second at the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championships in the junior single scull event, and took third in the U19 double scull at the Occoquan Chase. Chhabra has also recorded top-five results at the Head of the Occoquan and Stotesbury Cup National Regatta.
Chhabra is a member of the Cum Laude Society, honoring the top 10 percent of her graduating class, and she has served as a student council co-president since 2018. Her brother, Vijay, is currently a swimmer at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Bobby and Sandhya Chhabra.
How did you get started in rowing?
VC: I previously swam and played volleyball, but I found rowing in the summer/early fall of 2020 when the world shut down due to the pandemic and my family encouraged me to try something new. I took a few lessons in a single scull in late July and started rowing for the Rivanna Rowing Club in September of 2020. I fell in love with the sport almost immediately. Rowing came into my life when I needed it most, and honestly, it feels unreal that I will get to experience it at the next level.
What is your favorite rowing memory?
VC: About a year ago, one of my teammates and I participated in Giving for Grace, a 62-hour fundraiser honoring Grace Rett. We woke up at 3 a.m., blasted music, and erged for an hour in my garage… in 20-degree weather. I can confidently say that this is a core memory. It was spontaneous and made for a great workout! I also knew that I was a part of something bigger than just the sport, and that's incredibly powerful.
Why did you choose to row for Duke?
VC: Duke has everything I'm looking for – a strong emphasis on academics, a competitive and supportive group of rowers who are constantly striving to take the program to the next level, and countless extracurricular and class options that allow students to explore all of their interests. The sense of community at Duke is overwhelming, and the support system for student-athletes, along with the team culture, drew me in immediately.
What stuck out to you about the team that made the decision to attend Duke feel right?
VC: I spoke with a few rowers about their experiences, and I could tell that the culture of the team was important to each of them. Specifically, some of the traditions like kudos and family dinners on Friday nights showed me that community is a key pillar in the program. The team is a very tight-knit group of girls who push each other to do their best on and off the water, in and out of the classroom, and that is something I want to be a part of.
What do you look forward to about living at Duke and in Durham?
VC: I'm a big foodie and always have been, so as you can imagine, I am incredibly excited about the food scene both at Duke and in Durham! I also think that Duke's campus is absolutely beautiful and can't wait to spend the next four years there.
#GoDuke
A native of Charlottesville, Va., Chhabra currently attends St. Anne's-Belfield School and competes for the Rivanna Rowing Club. In 2021, she placed second at the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championships in the junior single scull event, and took third in the U19 double scull at the Occoquan Chase. Chhabra has also recorded top-five results at the Head of the Occoquan and Stotesbury Cup National Regatta.
Chhabra is a member of the Cum Laude Society, honoring the top 10 percent of her graduating class, and she has served as a student council co-president since 2018. Her brother, Vijay, is currently a swimmer at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Bobby and Sandhya Chhabra.
How did you get started in rowing?
VC: I previously swam and played volleyball, but I found rowing in the summer/early fall of 2020 when the world shut down due to the pandemic and my family encouraged me to try something new. I took a few lessons in a single scull in late July and started rowing for the Rivanna Rowing Club in September of 2020. I fell in love with the sport almost immediately. Rowing came into my life when I needed it most, and honestly, it feels unreal that I will get to experience it at the next level.
What is your favorite rowing memory?
VC: About a year ago, one of my teammates and I participated in Giving for Grace, a 62-hour fundraiser honoring Grace Rett. We woke up at 3 a.m., blasted music, and erged for an hour in my garage… in 20-degree weather. I can confidently say that this is a core memory. It was spontaneous and made for a great workout! I also knew that I was a part of something bigger than just the sport, and that's incredibly powerful.
Why did you choose to row for Duke?
VC: Duke has everything I'm looking for – a strong emphasis on academics, a competitive and supportive group of rowers who are constantly striving to take the program to the next level, and countless extracurricular and class options that allow students to explore all of their interests. The sense of community at Duke is overwhelming, and the support system for student-athletes, along with the team culture, drew me in immediately.
What stuck out to you about the team that made the decision to attend Duke feel right?
VC: I spoke with a few rowers about their experiences, and I could tell that the culture of the team was important to each of them. Specifically, some of the traditions like kudos and family dinners on Friday nights showed me that community is a key pillar in the program. The team is a very tight-knit group of girls who push each other to do their best on and off the water, in and out of the classroom, and that is something I want to be a part of.
What do you look forward to about living at Duke and in Durham?
VC: I'm a big foodie and always have been, so as you can imagine, I am incredibly excited about the food scene both at Duke and in Durham! I also think that Duke's campus is absolutely beautiful and can't wait to spend the next four years there.
#GoDuke
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