Sehrawat exhibited remarkable tenacity and determination by bouncing back to secure the bronze medal...
Digital Desk: India celebrated a momentous achievement at the Paris Olympics on Friday as Aman Sehrawat clinched the nation’s first wrestling medal of the Games. The 21-year-old wrestler secured a bronze in the men’s freestyle 57kg category with a commanding 13-5 victory over Puerto Rico’s Darian Toi Cruz. This victory marked India’s sixth medal at this year's Olympics and highlighted Sehrawat's exceptional performance on the global stage.
Sehrawat’s journey to the podium was a testament to his resilience and skill. He started the Olympic campaign with impressive dominance, winning his round of 16 and quarterfinal matches by technical superiority. However, his pursuit of gold encountered a setback in the semifinals when he faced Japan's top-seeded Rei Higuchi. Despite this loss, Sehrawat exhibited remarkable tenacity and determination by bouncing back to secure the bronze medal.
The bronze medal match against Toi Cruz was fiercely contested from the beginning. Cruz initially gained an edge by pushing Sehrawat out of bounds, but Sehrawat quickly responded with a successful leg-lock and a flip, earning two crucial points. The first half of the bout remained competitive, with both wrestlers exchanging points, leaving Sehrawat narrowly ahead with a 4-3 lead at the thirty-second mark.
In the second half, Sehrawat’s strategic prowess and endurance shone through. He extended his lead with a decisive maneuver, pulling three points ahead. An injury to Toi Cruz, which necessitated medical attention, further tilted the momentum in Sehrawat’s favor. Capitalizing on his opponent’s weakened state, Sehrawat pushed through to a 13-5 victory, securing the bronze medal.
Sehrawat’s success continues India’s storied legacy in Olympic wrestling, joining the ranks of illustrious figures like KD Jadhav, Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Ravi Dahiya, and Bajrang Punia. As India celebrates Sehrawat’s triumph, the nation eagerly anticipates further Olympic successes with Reetika Hooda set to compete in the women’s freestyle 76kg event on Saturday.
In a related development, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following her disqualification from the women's 50kg gold medal bout due to being overweight. The CAS has accepted her appeal, and a final decision will be made before the end of the Olympics after reviewing arguments from both Phogat and United World Wrestling (UWW).
