Aman Sehrawat made history by clinching the bronze medal in wrestling at the Paris 2024 Olympics, becoming the first Indian wrestler to secure a medal in this edition of the Games.
Competing in the men’s 57kg freestyle event, Sehrawat showcased his remarkable skills and resilience, defeating Puerto Rico’s Darian Toi Cruz with a commanding score of 13-5.
The bronze medal match took place on August 9, 2024, at the Champ de Arena in Paris. The bout began intensely, with Cruz securing the first point by forcing Sehrawat out of the designated area.
However, Sehrawat quickly responded, demonstrating his technical prowess by locking Cruz’s leg and flipping him to earn two points, taking a narrow 2-1 lead.
As the match progressed, both wrestlers exhibited aggressive grappling techniques, exchanging points rapidly. By the thirty-second break, Sehrawat led 4-3. In the second half, he continued to dominate, gaining a three-point advantage early on.
Despite Cruz requiring medical attention due to discomfort, Sehrawat maintained his momentum, extending his lead to 10-5 with just over a minute remaining. He ultimately sealed the victory with a final score of 13-5, securing India’s fifth bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
Who is Aman Sehrawat?
Aman Sehrawat, born on July 16, 2003, in Jhajjar, Haryana, has faced significant personal challenges throughout his life. He lost both of his parents by the age of 11, which could have derailed his aspirations.
Instead, he found solace in wrestling, training under coach Lalit Kumar. His dedication bore fruit as he rose through the ranks, winning his first National Championship title in 2021, followed by a bronze medal at the 2022 Asian Games and a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Wrestling Championships.
Sehrawat’s journey to the Olympics included a dominant performance in the earlier rounds, where he secured a 10-0 victory over North Macedonia’s Vladimir Egorov in the Round of 16 and a 12-0 technical superiority win against Albania’s Zelimkhan Abakanov in the quarterfinals. However, he faced a setback in the semifinals, losing 0-10 to Japan’s Higuchi Rei, the eventual finalist.
With this bronze medal, Aman Sehrawat becomes the seventh Indian wrestler to win an Olympic medal, joining the ranks of legends like KD Jadhav, Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Ravi Dahiya.
His achievement not only adds to India’s medal tally at the Paris Olympics but also highlights the country’s growing prowess in wrestling, marking the fifth consecutive Olympics where India has secured a wrestling medal.
