Asian Games 2026: Salman Khan’s Journey From Uber Driver to Medalist
Salman Khan went from driving an Uber in Delhi to winning India’s first Asian Games medal in men’s double sculls alongside Satnam Singh.
Salman Khan’s journey from driving an Uber in Delhi to winning an Asian Games medal reached a milestone on Thursday as he and Satnam Singh secured bronze in the men’s double sculls at Aichi-Nagoya. Their 6:13.25 finish gave India its first-ever Asian Games medal in the event.
Salman grew up in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, and took responsibility for his family after his father died when he was 18. He moved to Delhi and drove an Uber to support his younger siblings before eventually pursuing his long-held dream of joining the Indian Army.
He joined the Bombay Engineer Group in 2018, where Army coaches introduced him to rowing. Although he was initially reluctant, his early performances encouraged him to continue. He later won medals at national and international competitions and became part of India’s elite rowing setup.
Salman won gold at the 2022 National Games and several national and international medals in subsequent years. He was also included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme in 2023 and received training and competition support.
His Asian Games medal came alongside Satnam Singh, who switched from handball to rowing in 2018. Satnam had previously won a bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games as part of India’s men’s quadruple sculls team.
The pair were moved into the double sculls shortly before the Games following a reshuffle in India’s rowing squad. Despite the late change, they stayed among the medal contenders throughout the final and secured a historic bronze.
