Aman Sehrawat was the only male wrestler representing India at the Paris Olympics. With this win, he became the sixth male wrestler from India to win an Olympic medal, following in the footsteps of KD Jadhav, Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Ravi Dahiya, and Bajrang Punia.
A Victory for India
Aman Sehrawat has won India’s fifth bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, claiming victory in the men’s 57kg freestyle wrestling event. On Friday, Sehrawat delivered a remarkable performance, securing India’s first wrestling medal of the Games by defeating Puerto Rico’s Darian Toi Cruz 13-5 in the bronze medal match.
Quarterfinal Success
The 21-year-old wrestler displayed impressive skill on the event’s opening day, dominating his opponents with victories in the round of 16 and the quarterfinals. However, he faced a challenging semi-final against Japan’s top-seed Rei Higuchi, resulting in a defeat.
The Bronze Medal Match
In the bronze medal match, Toi Cruz initially took the lead by forcing Sehrawat out of the playing area, earning the first point. However, Sehrawat quickly responded, gaining two points by locking his opponent’s leg and flipping him. The two wrestlers exchanged points in a swift back-and-forth, with Sehrawat holding a 4-3 lead at the break.
Sehrawat started the second half strong, securing a three-point advantage by locking Toi Cruz again. With nearly two minutes left in the match, Toi Cruz needed medical attention after Sehrawat gained two more technical points, which seemed to affect his performance. Sehrawat took full advantage, extending his lead to 10-5, and eventually finishing the match with a 13-5 victory.
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India’s Hopes Continue
India’s last remaining hope in wrestling, Reetika Hooda, will begin her campaign in the women’s freestyle 76kg event on Saturday. Additionally, Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified in the women’s 50kg event due to being overweight, has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The CAS has accepted her appeal and will hear both Vinesh and United World Wrestling (UWW) before making a final decision before the Olympics conclude.
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