Satnam Singh and Salman Khan won the bronze medal in the men’s double sculls rowing event at the 2026 Asian Games on September 24. The Indian pair completed the race in 6:13.25 at the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course in Japan. Their performance added another rowing medal to India’s campaign at the Asian Games.

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China won the gold medal after Yi Xudi and Yide Nie finished the race in 6:09.77. Uzbekistan secured the silver medal through Pavel Sorin and Mekhrojbek Mamatkulov, who recorded a time of 6:10.49. India finished third with a time of 6:13.25.

Satnam Singh and Salman Khan Take Bronze

The Indian pair of Satnam Singh and Salman Khan maintained their position among the leading crews during the men’s double sculls final. The event requires two rowers to work together while each athlete controls two oars.

The Indian crew completed the 2,000-metre course in just over six minutes. Their coordinated rowing helped them secure third place and bring home the bronze medal.

The result was particularly significant for Salman Khan, who won his first Asian Games medal. For Satnam Singh, it added another Asian Games medal to his record after his previous bronze in the men’s quadruple sculls at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.

What Is Double Sculls?

Double sculls is one of the events in rowing in which two athletes compete together in a boat. Each rower uses two oars, one in each hand.

This is different from sweep rowing, where each rower uses only one oar. In double sculls, both athletes need to maintain a high level of coordination because their movements have to match throughout the race.

International rowing competitions generally use a 2,000-metre racing distance. Athletes need strength, endurance, rhythm and teamwork to maintain speed over the entire course.

China Wins Gold in the Final

China’s Yi Xudi and Yide Nie finished at the top of the men’s double sculls final. Their time of 6:09.77 gave them the gold medal.

Uzbekistan’s Pavel Sorin and Mekhrojbek Mamatkulov finished second in 6:10.49 and collected the silver medal.

India’s Satnam Singh and Salman Khan finished in 6:13.25 to take bronze. The small difference between the leading crews made the final a competitive race.

The result also shows the strong level of competition in rowing at the Asian Games, where crews from several countries compete across different events.

First Asian Games Medal in Double Sculls for India

The bronze medal is an important result for Indian rowing because it is India’s first medal in the men’s double sculls event at the Asian Games.

India has competed in several rowing disciplines at the continental event, including both sculling and sweep rowing. The new medal adds to India’s record in the sport and gives greater attention to the double sculls category.

For Salman Khan, the result marks his first Asian Games medal. For Satnam Singh, it represents another podium finish at the continental level.

Satnam Singh’s Previous Asian Games Medal

Satnam Singh had already won a medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. He was part of India’s bronze-medal winning men’s quadruple sculls crew at that edition.

The 2026 bronze therefore becomes another Asian Games achievement for the Indian rower. This time, he competed alongside Salman Khan in the double sculls event.

The ability to compete successfully in different rowing formats requires athletes to adapt to different crew combinations and race strategies. The result in Japan adds another achievement to Singh’s Asian Games record.

Salman Khan Wins His First Asian Games Medal

For Salman Khan, the bronze medal is his first Asian Games podium finish. His partnership with Satnam Singh produced a strong performance in the final.

In double sculls, both rowers need to maintain the same rhythm and timing. Even a small difference in their movements can affect the speed and balance of the boat.

The Indian pair’s 6:13.25 finish shows that they were able to maintain their coordination throughout the race and stay among the top three crews.

Rowing at the Asian Games

Rowing is a regular part of the Asian Games programme and includes several different events. These events include sculling competitions, where athletes use two oars, and sweep rowing, where each athlete uses one oar.

The sport combines physical strength with technical skill. Crews must maintain balance, control their stroke rate and work together throughout the race.

The Asian Games provide an important international platform for rowers from across Asia. The 2026 competition has once again brought together leading crews from different countries.

Nagaragawa International Regatta Course

The men’s double sculls competition was held at the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course in Japan. The venue is designed for rowing competitions and provides the required water course for international racing.

Rowing events require carefully prepared courses so that different crews compete over the same distance and under comparable conditions. The venue hosted the athletes competing for medals in the event.

India’s Growing Rowing Campaign

The Satnam Singh and Salman Khan bronze medal adds to India’s performances in rowing at the Asian Games. Indian rowers have competed in several events across recent editions and have produced medal-winning performances.

The double sculls result is also notable because it combines the experience of Satnam Singh with Salman Khan’s first Asian Games medal. Their third-place finish gives Indian rowing another podium moment at the 2026 Games.

The final standings saw China take gold, Uzbekistan win silver and India secure bronze. The Indian pair’s time of 6:13.25 completed a successful outing in the men’s double sculls and added another medal to India’s Asian Games campaign.