New Delhi, Aug 10: Aman Sehrawat delivered a remarkable performance on Friday, securing India's inaugural wrestling medal at the Paris Olympics. The 21-year-old wrestler defeated Puerto Rico's Darian Toi Cruz 13-5 in the men's freestyle 57kg category, marking India's sixth medal at the ongoing Games.
Sehrawat had an impressive start to the event, achieving victories by superiority in both the round of 16 and the quarterfinals. However, he encountered a setback in the semi-final, where he was defeated by top-seed Rei Higuchi of Japan.
In the bronze medal match, Toi Cruz initially took the lead by forcing Sehrawat out of the playing area. However, Sehrawat quickly responded, securing two points by locking his opponent's leg and flipping him. The pair exchanged points in a swift manner, with Sehrawat holding a 4-3 advantage at the thirty-second break.
The second half saw Sehrawat extend his lead with a three-point move, followed by another two technical points as Toi Cruz required medical attention. Despite the Puerto Rican's efforts to defend, the injury hampered his performance, and Sehrawat capitalised on the opportunity, extending his lead to 13-5 and securing the victory.
Aman Sehrawat, India's sole male wrestler at the Paris Olympics, now joins the ranks of Indian wrestling legends, becoming the sixth male wrestler from the country to win an Olympic medal. His achievement follows in the footsteps of KD Jadhav, Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Ravi Dahiya, and Bajrang Punia.
Looking ahead, India's last remaining contender, Reetika Hooda, will compete in the women's freestyle 76kg event on Saturday, with hopes of adding another medal to India's tally.
Additionally, India's wrestling prospects remain alive as Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from the women's 50kg gold medal bout due to a weight issue, has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The CAS has accepted her appeal and will issue a final decision before the conclusion of the Olympics.
