Aman Sehrawat, 21, etched his name in Bharat’s sporting history by clinching the bronze medal in the men’s 57kg wrestling category at the Paris Olympics 2024. His victory against Puerto Rico’s Darian Toi Cruz, with a commanding 13-5 score, marked Bharat’s first wrestling medal at the Games.
This achievement also made Aman 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.
After his win, Aman expressed deep gratitude and dedicated his triumph to his late parents and his country. “My parents always wanted me to be a wrestler, even though they didn’t know much about the Olympics. This medal is for them and for Bharat,” Aman shared, his voice filled with emotion.
Aman’s journey to Olympic glory is particularly poignant, as he lost both his parents at the young age of 11. This tragedy, however, fuelled his determination, making him the youngest Indian to earn an Olympic wrestling medal.
His path to the podium in Paris began with a flawless 10-0 victory over North Macedonia’s Vladimir Egorov in the Round of 16. He followed this with a dominant 12-0 technical superiority win against Albania’s Zelimkhan Abakanov in the quarterfinals.
Aman’s place at Paris 2024 was secured after he bested Ravi Kumar Dahiya, a silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics, during the national selection trials. This bronze medal continues Bharat’s streak of winning wrestling medals in every Olympics since 2008.
In his bronze medal match, Aman showcased his wrestling prowess. Although Darian Toi Cruz initially gained an early lead by forcing Aman out of the ring, Sehrawat quickly regained control, securing points with calculated manoeuvres. By the break, he held a narrow 4-3 lead. The second half saw Sehrawat capitalising on Cruz’s injury, extending his lead and ultimately winning with a decisive 13-5 score.
Aman Sehrawat: From Personal Tragedy to Olympic Success
Born on July 16, 2003, in Haryana’s Jhajjar, Aman Sehrawat’s journey to the Olympics is one of resilience and determination. After losing his mother to depression and his father a year later, Aman turned to wrestling as an outlet, training under coach Lalit Kumar. His dedication quickly bore fruit, as he captured his first National Championship title in 2021, paving the way for a series of successes.
In 2022, Aman won a bronze medal in the 57kg category at the Asian Games, followed by gold at the 2023 Asian Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. He carried this momentum into 2024, where he claimed gold at the Zagreb Open, defeating China’s Zou Wanhao with a flawless 10-0 performance.
Throughout his journey, Aman has asserted on the importance of hard work and perseverance, viewing wrestling as more than just a sport — it’s a tribute to his family’s legacy.
His story, marked by personal loss and extraordinary achievements, serves as an inspiration to many, proving that determination in the face of adversity can lead to greatness. Aman Sehrawat’s triumph at the Paris Olympics is a testament to his unyielding spirit and the hopes of a nation riding on his shoulders.
