India scripted rowing history at the Asian Games 2026, as Satnam Singh and Salman Khan powered their way to a bronze medal in the men’s double sculls.
Clocking 6:13.25 at the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course, the duo held steady in medal contention throughout, finishing behind China and Uzbekistan.
The result marked India’s first‑ever medal in this discipline, adding to the nation’s growing tally on Day 6 of the Games.
Salman’s Journey: From driving an Uber in Delhi to joining the Army in 2018, Salman discovered rowing through the Bombay Engineer Group in Pune. His resilience and adaptability turned an unlikely path into a podium finish.
Satnam’s Rise: A former national‑level handball player, Satnam switched to rowing in 2018 under Olympian Swarn Singh Virk’s guidance. Already a bronze medallist in quadruple sculls (2023) and gold winner at the 2025 Asian Rowing Championships, his consistency anchored the duo’s success.
Together, Satnam and Salman adapted to a last‑minute pairing in double sculls and delivered a landmark medal — a breakthrough moment for Indian rowing.
