Indian rowers Salman Khan and Satnam Singh have etched their names in history, securing India's first-ever medal in the men's double sculls at the Asian Games 2026. The duo clinched a bronze medal in Aichi-Nagoya on Thursday, September 24, completing the final race in an impressive 6 minutes, 13.25 seconds.
Throughout the demanding race, Khan and Singh maintained strong medal contention. They held the second position at the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m marks before a final push saw them cross the finish line in third place. China's Yi Xudi and Yide Nie took home the gold, while Uzbekistan's Pavel Sorin and Mekhrojbek Mamatkulov secured the silver medal.
Salman Khan's Journey from Uber Driver to Asian Games Medalist
For Salman Khan, this bronze medal marks his inaugural Asian Games triumph. His remarkable journey to the pinnacle of rowing began in 2018 when he joined the Indian Army. Prior to his military service, Khan navigated the streets of Delhi as an Uber driver, supporting his family after the untimely demise of his father when Salman was just 18.
Born in Pure Dhingai, Uttar Pradesh, Salman initially put his Army aspirations on hold to fulfill family responsibilities. It was a friend who suggested his physical attributes might be well-suited for the armed forces. After four months of rigorous preparation, he successfully cleared the recruitment process and joined the Bombay Engineer Group in Pune on September 25, 2018.
His introduction to rowing came within the Army. Salman quickly demonstrated natural talent, earning a silver medal in his first inter-centre regatta. Success followed in battalion and inter-centre competitions, leading to his selection for the Army Rowing Node at CME Pune in 2021.
Khan's rowing career has seen a steady ascent, including gold medals at the 36th and 37th National Games, and the Asian Rowing Cup in 2024, which earned him a promotion to Naib Subedar. He also secured silver medals at the Australian Rowing Championships and Asian Rowing Championships in 2025, culminating in this historic Asian Games bronze.
Satnam Singh: From Handball Court to Rowing Glory
Satnam Singh, hailing from Punjab's Mansa district, initially excelled as a national-level handball player before transitioning to rowing in 2018. His potential was spotted by Olympian Swarn Singh Virk, who encouraged the switch.
Singh quickly adapted to the new sport, representing India at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, where he finished eighth in the men's pair event. He later became the first Indian Navy rower to win the men's single sculls title at the 40th Senior National Rowing Championships.
This is Satnam's second Asian Games medal, having previously won a bronze as part of India's men's quadruple sculls crew at the Hangzhou Games in 2023. In 2025, he added a gold in men's quadruple sculls at the Asian Rowing Championships in Vietnam and a silver in men's double sculls at the indoor Asian Championships, setting the stage for his latest triumph with Salman Khan.