"I am ready to die, but I will not come back without getting the medal," Salman said to his fellow Satnam prior to the beginning of the rowing double sculls event. Salman belongs to the Army while Satnam belongs to the Navy and they had never rowed together before. Salman, who lives in the village Dhingai Khairana, Amethi, was afraid that if he would not get the medal, he will have to give up rowing once more. However, both were successful in winning the bronze after competing in the first position in the distance of 1200 meters. Salman and Satnam with the medal.
For Salman, the medal is no less than a lifeline. He says to Amar Ujala that he stopped rowing four years ago but got back into it after convincing of Major Nagendra Hooda. Today, Salman was left speechless because of the honor that he received. Even his father came to see him during the race.
He died of dengue in 2016 and his only dream for his son was to join the army and serve the country. Following his father's demise, his family had to leave Mewat district and come back to Amethi. For two years, he drove the Uber cab in Delhi but in 2018 he became successful in joining the army.
Salman burst into tears after winning the medal. He says he has struggled all his life. His father, Mohammad Qasim Khan, used to make truck bodies in Taudu, Mewat. Things changed after his death. He took the army recruitment exam while his father was alive. In 2018, while he was driving a cab, a friend told him about the army recruitment. He managed to join the Army, where he took up rowing in 2019.
This is Satnam's second consecutive Asian Games medal. Satnam played handball until 2016. He also represented Punjab in the national championships, but he took up rowing after being inspired by rowing legend Swaran Singh. He took root in the sport in the Navy. He says this medal is significant for him given the last-minute exchange.
"I am ready to die, but I will not come back without getting the medal," Salman said to his fellow Satnam prior to the beginning of the rowing double sculls event. Salman belongs to the Army while Satnam belongs to the Navy and they had never rowed together before. Salman, who lives in the village Dhingai Khairana, Amethi, was afraid that if he would not get the medal, he will have to give up rowing once more. However, both were successful in winning the bronze after competing in the first position in the distance of 1200 meters. Salman and Satnam with the medal.
For Salman, the medal is no less than a lifeline. He says to Amar Ujala that he stopped rowing four years ago but got back into it after convincing of Major Nagendra Hooda. Today, Salman was left speechless because of the honor that he received. Even his father came to see him during the race.
He died of dengue in 2016 and his only dream for his son was to join the army and serve the country. Following his father's demise, his family had to leave Mewat district and come back to Amethi. For two years, he drove the Uber cab in Delhi but in 2018 he became successful in joining the army.
Salman burst into tears after winning the medal. He says he has struggled all his life. His father, Mohammad Qasim Khan, used to make truck bodies in Taudu, Mewat. Things changed after his death. He took the army recruitment exam while his father was alive. In 2018, while he was driving a cab, a friend told him about the army recruitment. He managed to join the Army, where he took up rowing in 2019.
This is Satnam's second consecutive Asian Games medal. Satnam played handball until 2016. He also represented Punjab in the national championships, but he took up rowing after being inspired by rowing legend Swaran Singh. He took root in the sport in the Navy. He says this medal is significant for him given the last-minute exchange.