Aman Sehrawat, 21, became India’s seventh wrestler to win an Olympic medal after beating Darian Toi Cruz of Puerto Rico 13-5 in the men’s 57kg bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Friday.
India’s previous medals in wrestling came through KD Jadhav (bronze in 1952), Sushil Kumar (bronze in 2008 and silver in 2012), Yogeshwar Dutt (bronze in 2012), Sakshi Malik (bronze in 2016), Bajrang Punia (bronze in 2020) and Ravi Dahiya (2020).
Aman Sehrawat dedicated his bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics to his late parents and India after defeating Puerto Rico’s Darian Toi Cruz 13-5. “My parents always wanted me to be a wrestler. They didn’t know anything about the Olympics but they wanted me to be a wrestler. I dedicate this medal to my parents and to the nation,” he said, after winning the bout.
Aman lost his parents when he was 11. He became the youngest Indian medallist at the Olympics.
Earlier, Aman secured a dominant 10-0 victory over Vladimir Egorov of North Macedonia in the Round of 16 and followed it up with a 12-0 technical superiority win against Albania’s Zelimkhan Abakanov in the quarterfinals. At the Tokyo Olympics, Ravi Kumar Dahiya won a silver medal in the same weight category. Aman defeated Ravi during the national selection trials for the Olympic qualifiers, earning himself a spot for Paris 2024. With this bronze medal, India has now won a medal in wrestling at every Olympic Games since 2008.
AMAN OUTCLASSES DARIAN
Aman came up with a brilliant performance on Friday to clinch India’s first wrestling medal at the Paris Olympics. In a closely contested bronze medal match, Toi Cruz secured the first point by forcing Aman Sehrawat out of the playing area. However, Sehrawat quickly responded, earning two points by locking Cruz’s leg and flipping him. The two wrestlers exchanged points, each flipping the other in rapid succession, with Sehrawat leading 4-3 at the thirty-second break.
Aman started the second half strongly, immediately locking Cruz to gain a three-point advantage. With nearly two minutes left, Cruz required medical attention due to discomfort after Sehrawat scored two more technical points. Despite trailing, the Puerto Rican struggled to defend effectively. Sehrawat capitalized on Cruz’s injury, gaining two more technical points to extend his lead to 10-5. He then widened the gap to seven points, eventually securing a commanding 13-5 victory.
WHO IS AMAN SEHRAWAT?
Aman Sehrawat is a young Indian wrestler who has made a significant impact in the wrestling world, particularly at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Born on July 16, 2003, in Jhajjar, Haryana, Aman’s life was marked by tragedy early on. He lost both his parents at the age of 11, with his mother passing away due to depression and his father dying a year later. Despite these hardships, Aman found solace and purpose in wrestling, which he began training in under the mentorship of coach Lalit Kumar.
Aman’s dedication to the sport quickly bore fruit. He won his first National Championship title in 2021, marking the beginning of a remarkable upward trajectory in his career. In 2022, he secured a bronze medal in the 57kg category at the Asian Games and went on to win a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. His success continued into 2024, where he clinched the gold medal at the Zagreb Open wrestling tournament, defeating China’s Zou Wanhao with a flawless 10-0 score.
Throughout his journey, Aman has often highlighted the role of hard work and perseverance in his achievements. He has stated that wrestling is not just a sport for him but a way to honor his family’s legacy. His journey at the Olympics has been a source of inspiration, reflecting not just his physical strength but also his mental fortitude.
Aman Sehrawat’s story is one of resilience and determination, overcoming immense personal challenges to rise through the ranks of wrestling. His performance at the Paris Olympics has carried the hopes of a nation, and he continues to prove that perseverance in the face of adversity can lead to greatness.