Wrestler Aman Sehrawat beat Toi Darian Cruz in the bronze medal match in Men’s Freestyle 57 kg category, clinching India’s first medal win in wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympics. But what’s inspiring and awing people more than Sehrawat’s impressive victory is his backstory, which is full of hardships and the display of true grit. Sehrawat, who is only 21 years old, won the bronze, taking India’s medal tally at the Paris Olympics to six.
This was also India’s fifth straight wrestling medal at the Olympics, a run which began with Sushil Kumar in 2008. Now, Sehrawat’s coach has spoken about the many difficulties the Olympic bronze medalist overcame to get to where he is today. At 21, India's Aman Sehrawat is the youngest Indian to win an individual medal at the Olympics 🇮🇳🥉 #Paris2024 pic.
twitter.com/W9UYDWX9aI — Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) August 9, 2024 Before his bronze medal match, Sehrawat was 1.5 kgs over his competition weight of 57.
While this was normal, Vinesh Phogat’s unfortunate fate led to slight anxiety. Speaking about the same, coach Virender Dahiyasaid, “After his semifinal ended, Aman had put on 1.5 kg weight.
It is natural for every wrestler. He did some mat training for 1.5 hours.
Then at around 12.30 AM, we made him hit the gym. He returned to his room at 4 AM.
At 4.15 AM, his weight was all fine and under control. He then returned to his room and rested.
” Aman Sehrawat added, “It was tough to sleep. I just waited for time to weigh-in.” 🇮🇳 A true champion! Aman Sehrawat dedicated his maiden Olympic Bronze medal to both his parents whom he sadly lost at a very young age.
💔 We often don't realize the struggles athletes may have to go through before they achieve success. A huge round of..
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com/ZqVMySszlr — India at Paris 2024 Olympics (@sportwalkmedia) August 10, 2024 For those unaware, Sehrawat was sent to the wrestling academy as he had nowhere else to go. Sehrawat was only 10 when he lost his mother, who suffered from depression. A year later, he lost his father.
At just 11, Sehrawat was an orphan. Talking about to whom he dedicated his win, Sehrawat said, “This medal is for them (parents). They don’t even know that I became a wrestler, that there’s something called the Olympics.
” I dedicate this medal to my parents ❤️ pic.twitter.com/DRBCOUm3nK — Aman Sehrawat 🧢 (@AmanSehrawat57) August 10, 2024 When 12, Sehrawat lived with his uncle but, a few months later, he was brought to Chhatrasal, where young children were molded into champion wrestlers.
The coaches at the academy admitted Sehrawat out of sympathy, thinking they would be able to provide him with two meals a day. Talking about Sehrawat’s abilities, his coach Lalit Kumar said, “He didn’t choose wrestling. Wrestling chose him.
” Speaking about his future in the sports, Sehrawat said, “I came here hoping for a gold medal. But this bronze gives me a base for Los Angeles. Sushil pehelwan got two medals, so I too can get two or three medals.
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