Aman Sehrawat had an impressive start in his debut Olympic Games, winning both his initial matches convincingly and securing a place in the semifinals. However, he faced a tough challenge against the world’s number one wrestler from Japan, losing the match and missing out on the final. Despite this, Aman managed to win a bronze medal.
Winning a medal at the Olympic Games is a dream for every athlete, but not everyone achieves it. Some athletes succeed after many attempts, while others make a mark in their very first Olympics. Aman Sehrawat falls into this latter category.
Aman Sehrawat’s Achievement at 21
At the age of 21 years and 24 days, Aman Sehrawat won a bronze medal in the 57 kg weight category at the Paris 2024 Olympics, becoming India’s youngest wrestler to win an individual medal at the Olympics. Despite this achievement, Aman showed maturity by acknowledging his mistake that cost him a chance at the gold medal.
Where Aman Made a Mistake
On Friday, August 9, Aman won his bronze medal match against Puerto Rican wrestler Darian Cruz with a dominant 13-5 victory. After his historic win, Aman dedicated the medal to his parents and the entire nation. He then bravely admitted his mistake, saying that he was confused during the semifinal match and made the error of giving away too many points early on. He realized during the match that it’s tough to make a comeback after losing points early in big matches. In the semifinal, Aman lost to Japan’s world number one, Rei Higuchi, 10-0. Higuchi went on to win the gold medal in the event. Aman mentioned that he kept this lesson in mind during the bronze medal match and maintained control from the start.
Making a Mark in His First Olympics
In his first Olympic appearance, 21-year-old Aman was the only male wrestler representing India at the Games. Expectations were high, especially since last year, Aman won the Under-23 World Championship. Earlier this year, he defeated his mentor Ravi Dahiya in the trials and secured a spot in the qualifier tournament, which earned him a ticket to the Paris Olympics. After these achievements, Aman has now proudly waved the Indian flag in Paris. This is India’s sixth medal at the Olympic Games.