Indian rowers Satnam Singh and Salman Khan won bronze in the men’s double sculls at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 24, clocking 6:13.25 in Final A at the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course.
The duo finished behind China’s Yi Xudi and Yide Nie, who won gold, and Uzbekistan’s Pavel Sorin and Mekhrojbek Mamatkulov, who took silver. The medal is India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in the men’s double sculls. Satnam and Salman had qualified for the final after finishing second in their heat on September 23 in 6:15.63.
Their podium finish came after India’s rowing team underwent controversial last-minute crew changes ahead of the competition, with the Rowing Federation of India defending the reshuffle as a strategy aimed at maximising medal opportunities. The result also gives Satnam his second Asian Games medal, while Salman has won his first.
A Race That Went To The Wire
Satnam and Salman were in medal contention for almost the entire 2,000-metre final. The Indian pair held second position at the 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m marks, at one stage reportedly sitting only around half a second behind the Chinese leaders. However, the final 500 metres altered the podium order, with Uzbekistan moving ahead of India. The Indian duo nevertheless held on to third and crossed the line in 6:13.25.
According to UNI, China’s Yi Xudi and Yide Nie finished first in 6:09.77, while Uzbekistan’s Pavel Sorin and Mekhrojbek Mamatkulov took silver in 6:10.49, putting India 3.48 seconds behind gold and 2.76 seconds behind silver. Some reports have carried a different Chinese finishing time, so the Indian finishing time and medal position are the clearest figures to use consistently.
The bronze was secured less than a day after the pair had entered the medal race. In their September 23 heat, Satnam and Salman finished second in 6:15.63 to qualify for Final A. Their final performance therefore represented an improvement of more than two seconds.
From Last-Minute Change To Podium
The achievement carries additional significance because of the circumstances surrounding India’s rowing campaign. Just two days before the rowing events began, India’s crew combinations were changed across multiple events.
Satnam Singh and Salman Khan, who had originally been part of the men’s quadruple sculls combination, were moved into the double sculls, while Navdeep Singh and Kulwinder Singh were moved in the opposite direction. The changes followed a delay in the rowing schedule caused by a typhoon warning.
The reshuffle led to frustration among some Indian rowers, with reports saying athletes had considered boycotting training over the late changes and communication surrounding them. The rowing leadership, however, defended the decision.
India’s head coach and the Rowing Federation of India president said the shortened competition schedule required strategic changes, with the stated objective of putting India in the strongest possible position to win medals.
The eventual bronze suggests how quickly Satnam and Salman adapted to the revised pairing. It also builds on India’s recent strength in continental rowing. At the 2025 Asian Rowing Championships, India won 10 medals, including gold in the men’s quadruple sculls with Satnam Singh among the crew, while Salman Khan was part of the silver-winning men’s double sculls pairing.
Two Different Journeys, One Podium
For Satnam Singh, the medal adds to an already established Asian Games record. He won bronze in the men’s quadruple sculls at the Hangzhou Asian Games and has represented India internationally, including at the 2018 Youth Olympics. His move from handball to rowing eventually led him into India’s senior rowing set-up and now to a second Asian Games podium.
For Salman Khan, Thursday’s medal marks his first Asian Games podium. His journey into rowing has also been distinctive. Reports have previously documented his transition into the sport after joining the Indian Army, followed by performances at national and international competitions.
His inclusion in India’s elite athlete-development system and previous success in the men’s double sculls at the 2025 Asian Rowing Championships provided a foundation for his latest achievement.
The bronze also contributes to India’s growing medal haul at Aichi-Nagoya. By the morning of September 24, the rowing medal, followed by Naorem Roshibina Devi’s silver in women’s sanda, took India’s overall tally to 14 medals one gold, six silver and seven bronze, according to contemporary reports.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Satnam Singh and Salman Khan’s bronze is a reminder that sporting achievements are often shaped not only by the final result but also by adaptability, teamwork and the ability to respond when circumstances change. Their journey to the podium came amid an unexpected crew reshuffle, yet the duo managed to turn a late change into a historic result. At the same time, the concerns raised by rowers about communication around team selections underline why athletes deserve clarity and transparency when major competitions are approaching.
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