Rower Salman Khan drove an Uber in Delhi and now has an Asian Games medal
Indian rowers Satnam Singh and Salman Khan won bronze in the men’s double sculls at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Thursday (September 24), giving India its first ever medal at the tournament. The Indian pair clocked 6:13.25 in the final to finish behind China’s Yi Xudi and Yide Nie, who won gold, and Uzbekistan’s Pavel Sorin and Mekhrojbek Mamatkulov, who took silver.
Satnam and Salman were firmly in medal contention for most of the race, finishing second in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m. They were eventually overtaken in the closing stages, dropping to third in the final 500m, but held on to secure bronze.
Asian Games 2026 live: September 24 update
For Salman, the medal marks his first podium finish at the Asian Games and another major step in a rowing career that only began after he joined the Indian Army. Before finding his way into sports, Salman drove Uber in Delhi to support his family.
WHO IS SALMAN KHAN?
Salman Khan was born in Pure Dhingai in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh and grew up as the eldest of four brothers and two sisters. His father, Mohd Kasim Khan, worked in a body shop in Taur, Haryana, where Salman completed his schooling.
His life changed when his father died of dengue fever when Salman was 18 years old.
When the responsibility of supporting his younger siblings fell on him, his plans to join the Indian Army were put on hold. Instead, Salman moved to earn money, driving an Uber taxi in Delhi and working day and night to help support his family.
His army dream finally returned.
A friend pointed out that Salman’s height and physique could make him suitable for the armed forces. He handed over the cab to another driver and spent four months preparing for recruitment before passing the recruitment, medical and written examinations.
Salman joined Bombay Engineer Group in Pune on 25 September 2018.
It was after joining the army that he was introduced to rowing.
Coaches Satywan, Satish Siraat and Prabhat Mishra noticed his physical qualities and encouraged him to try the sport. Salman was initially reluctant as rowing was not something he planned to pursue. But his trainers persisted and finally put him in the boat.
His first inter-centre regatta resulted in a silver medal, giving him the confidence to continue. He went on to win medals in battalion and inter-centre competitions before clearing the ergometer criteria in 2021 and gaining selection for the Army Rowing Node at CME Pune.
Training alongside some of India’s leading rowers helped Salman see rowing as more than just something he was encouraged to try.
He was close to quitting the sport twice, but his coaches convinced him to continue. Senior trainer Kudrat Ali and training officer Major Nagendra Hooda were among those who guided the next phase of his development.
Results soon began to reflect this progress.
Salman won gold at the 36th Gujarat National Games in 2022 and also won gold at the 5th National Indoor Championship that year. In 2023, he won silver at the Senior National Championship and gold at the Open National Sprint Championship.
He also represented India at the World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne in 2023.
Salman was inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme in 2023 and received a support of Rs 4,09,100 under TOPS. He also earned Rs 12,16,589 as part of the annual training and competition calendar.
Later that year, he won gold at the 37th National Games in Goa, before winning gold at the 2024 Asian Rowing Cup. The result also earned him promotion to the rank of Naib Subedar in the Indian Army.
His international record continued to grow, with silver medals at the Australian Rowing Championships in Tasmania and the 2025 Asian Rowing Championships in Vietnam. That year he also won gold at the 38th Uttarakhand National Games and the 42nd Senior National Rowing Championships in Bhopal.
A medal from the Asian Games was another significant addition to this record. India’s bronze winning team in men’s double sculls at the 2026 Asian Games. (PTI Photo)
WHO IS SATNAM SINGH?
Salman’s historic bronze partner Satnam Singh also arrived in rowing after starting in another sport.
Satnam was a national level handball player before switching to rowing in 2018. Olympian Swarn Singh Virk recognized his physical potential and encouraged him to take up the sport.
The move quickly developed into a career.
Hailing from Punjab’s Mansa district, Satnam represented India at the 2018 Youth Olympics where he finished eighth in the men’s doubles event. He later established himself among India’s leading rowers and won the men’s singles title at the 40th Senior National Rowing Championships, becoming the first Indian Navy rower to win the event.
Satnam’s first Asian Games medal came in Hangzhou in 2023 when he was part of India’s men’s quadruple relay team that won bronze.
He added another international success in 2025 when he won gold in the men’s quadruple at the Asian Rowing Championships in Vietnam. He also won silver at the Asian Indoor Championships in men’s double sculls.
The pairing with Salman in Aichi-Nagoya came after the Indian rowing team underwent a late reshuffle.
Satnam and Salman were originally part of the men’s quadruple bobsled crew but were moved to double sculls while the other rowers were reassigned between races. The changes came just days before the rowing competition and led to frustration among the Indian team members.
The two quickly adapted to their new combination.
On Thursday, they held onto the medal positions for most of the final before securing bronze in 6:13.25. It was another Asian Games medal for Satnam. It was a first for Salman. And it was a historic first for Indian rowing in the men’s double sculls.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
24 Sep 2026 08:53 IST