Satnam Singh and Salman Khan lifted a bronze in men’s double sculls with a 6:13.25 finish, the first rowing medal India has ever earned at the Asian Games. They trailed the gold‑winning Chinese pair by 3.48 seconds.
The duo held second place at the 1,500‑metre mark but slipped in the final 500 metres, dropping to third. The tailwind and their lighter weight—each about 85 kg versus competitors in the 90‑95 kg range—helped them keep pace, yet the Chinese's relentless final sprint proved too much.
Originally slated for the quadruple sculls, the pair was shifted to double sculls after a team reshuffle, forcing a rapid tactical adjustment. Satnam said, "We had trained together for seven months, so our rhythm carried us through the change."
Satnam’s bronze also erases the sting of Hangzhou 2018, where he finished last in the same event. Khan, who once drove an Uber in Delhi, now smiles on the podium, reflecting a journey from hardship to historic success.
India’s podium spot in rowing signals a new era for the sport in the country, potentially attracting more investment and inspiring a new generation of rowers. The pair will now target qualification for the Tokyo Olympics, hoping to bring home gold next time.