Asian Games 2026: Satnam Singh and Salman Khan win bronze in men's double sculls

Satnam Singh and Salman Khan won the bronze medal in the men's double sculls at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on September 24, 2026, completing the race in 6.13 mins.

The pair had been reassigned from the men's quadruple sculls to the double sculls just two days before the event, a change they had not anticipated and for which they had no prior race experience together; Salman recalled the immediate reaction: “Sab nirash ho gaye the (we were depressed). The hardest part was we were removed from quad and placed into doubles. We didn’t eat or drink or sleep that night.” They protested the decision and considered quitting before deciding to compete.

Their bronze was the first podium finish for an Indian duo in the men's double sculls at the Asian Games.

China's Yi Xudi and Nie Yide won gold with a time of 6:09.77, while the Uzbekistan pairing of Mekhrojbek Mamatkulov and Pavel Sorin finished second; Satnam and Salman completed the race just under three seconds behind the Uzbekistan pair and crossed the line ahead of Indonesia.

After the race Salman required assistance climbing the short ramp out of the water, his hand held by a volunteer as he struggled on trembling legs, while Satnam lay on his back and cried out: “Gold chala gaya (we lost the gold).”

With little preparation the two took to the course on Thursday morning relying on effort over coordination; Salman said, “What matters most is desh ka naam aur nishan (the country’s name and flag). We have to keep it high. Whatever happens later happens later.” He added of their race effort: “Bas power se chali ye boat (the boat moved on power alone).” For the first half-kilometre they were in second place before the Uzbek pair closed strongly at the finish.

Their bronze medal was India's only rowing medal at the Nagoya Asian Games.