Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat secured the bronze medal in the 57 kg freestyle wrestling event at the Paris Olympics on Friday, defeating Puerto Rico's Darian Cruz with a 13-5 victory. The 21-year-old made history by winning India's first wrestling medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics in his debut appearance. Aman Sehrawat now stands as the 7th Indian wrestler to win an Olympic medal.
The match began with Cruz taking an early lead by controlling Aman's single leg and pushing him out of the blue zone for the first point. However, Aman rallied back, targeting Cruz's shoulders to earn two points by forcing him out of the blue zone. Despite Cruz momentarily regaining the lead by securing Aman's legs and scoring two points, Aman surged ahead again towards the end of the first three minutes.
With just 37 seconds left, Aman scored two additional points, positioning himself for a victory by technical superiority. Despite Cruz's last-ditch effort, Aman managed to secure another point, sealing his win. Abhinav Bindra, India's 2008 Olympic gold medalist, praised Aman on X, highlighting his determination, focus, and humble demeanor as traits of a true champion.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Aman on X, emphasizing his dedication and perseverance. Aman's victory was a significant boost for India, especially following the disqualification of female wrestler Vinesh Phogat in the 50 kg freestyle final due to weight issues. India has now won six medals at the Paris Games, including one silver and five bronze medals.
