Aman Sehrawat becomes 7th Indian wrestler to win an Olympic medal
Aman Sehrawat, 21, became India’s seventh Olympic medalist in wrestling when he defeated Darian Toi Cruz of Puerto Rico 13-5 in the men’s 57kg bronze medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Friday. 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) are the previous wrestlers to win medals for India.
Aman Sehrawat dedicated his bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics to his late parents and India after defeating Darian Toi Cruz of Puerto Rico 13-5.
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“My parents have always wanted me to be a wrestler. They knew nothing about the Olympics, but they wanted me to wrestle. I dedicate this medal to my parents and the nation,” he stated after winning the bout.
Who is Aman Sehrawat?
Aman garnered attention for becoming the first Indian wrestler to win a gold medal at the U23 Wrestling Championships.
His achievement is attributed to his inspiration, two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar. Despite experiencing early parental bereavement, he was cared for by his grandfather, Mangeram Sehrawat.
Aman has been practicing at the iconic Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, which has produced numerous Olympic medalists. Aman’s achievements include gold medals in numerous championships, indicating a strong wrestling career.
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Aman, from Birohar in Haryana’s Jhajjar district, lost his mother when he was ten years old. A year later, Aman’s father died, leaving him in the care of his uncle. The wrestler suffered from sadness after losing both of his parents, and at the age of 11, he began wrestling.
According to his initial coach, Lalit Kumar, Aman was ‘scrawny and shy’ when he first started, but his commitment turned him into a rapid learner, and he transferred to the Chhatrasal Stadium for more instruction.
