2024 Paris Olympics, wrestling: Aman Sehrawat hands India bronze medal
Wrestler Aman Sehrawat has won India's sixth medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Sehrawat overcame Puerto Rico's Darian Toi Cruz in the men's 57kg wrestling bronze medal contest. Earlier on Thursday, Sehrawat lost his semi-final bout against Japan's Rei Higuchi. The Indian wrestler reached the semis after downing Abakarov Zelimkhan in the quarters. Sehrawat deserves plaudits for his hard-fought performance in Paris. Here's more.
13-5 win in the bronze medal bout
In the bronze medal bout on Friday, Cruz managed to hold on to the leg and push Sehrawat out of the circle to earn his first point on the board. However, Sehrawat took an attacking approach and landed his points. Sehrwat claimed control after and from trailing 2-3, he took a 6-3 lead. Cruz fought back and made it 5-6. However, Sehrawat stood tall.
Who is Aman Sehrawat?
Sehrawat, who was born on July 16, 2003, hails from the Jhajjar district in Haryana, India. He is a freestyle wrestler who competes in the 57kg weight category. Sehrawat sought inspiration from Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar's achievement at the 2012 London Olympics, where he won the silver medal. The former then starting wrestling in Delhi at the age of 10.
Only Indian male wrestler at Paris Games
Sehrawat claimed his Paris Olympics berth at 2024 Asian Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament in Bishkek. It is worth noting that he is the only Indian male wrestler competing at the 2024 Paris Games.
Paris Games: Massive wins in R16 and quarters
In the round of 16, 21-year-old Sehrawat defeated North Macedonia's Vladimir Egorov by technical superiority. A comfortable 10-0 win gave the Macedonian no chance. In the last eight, he defeated Albania's Zelimkhan, winning by a 12-0 margin on technical superiority. Notably, in the 2nd round, a single leg takedown on Zelimkhan, stunned the Albanian grappler. Sehrawat then turned him him over three times.
His performance in the semis
Higuchi defeated Sehrawat by technical superiority in the first three minutes. Higuichi was in total control and managed a double-leg takedown followed by a single leg-down. The Japanese had a four point lead in a couple of minutes itself before he gained more points.
Bronze medal winner at 2022 Asian Games
Sehrawat has won several laurels in his short career so far. Young Sehrawat bagged the bronze medal in men's 57kg event at the 2022 Asian Games. He won the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Championships thereafter. He won five medals at the Grand Prix (G2, S2, B1). He won bronze at Yasar Dogu Tournament in 2022 and silver (Kolov & Nikola Petrov Tournament).
Sehrawat has also shone in U23 and U20 levels
Sehrawat won gold at the 2022 World U23 Championships and 2022 Asian U23 Championship. Before that, he bagged bronze at the 2022 Asian U20 Championship. He also won two bronze medals at the World Cadets Championship (2019 and 2018), competing in 55kg and 51kg respectively. He also won gold at the Asian Cadets Championship in 2019 (55kg category).
7th medal in wrestling for India at the Olympics
Sehrawat handed the Indian wrestling contingent its 7th medal at the Olympics. It's also India's 5th bronze medal in wrestling (2 silver). He joins the likes of KD Jadhav, Sushil Kumar (twice), Yogeshwar Dutt, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Ravi Kumar Dahiya in terms of wrestling medals for India.
6th medal in 2024 Paris Games for India
India won their sixth medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Before this, India won three bronze medals in shooting. India also won the bronze medal in men's hockey before Neeraj Chopra won the silver in men's javelin throw.
