Grappler Aman Sehrawat turned India’s youngest ever Olympic medallist by clinching the 57kg free-style class bronze lower than a month after his twenty first birthday to finish a memorable Video games debut and raise the sagging spirits of the controversy-hit nationwide wrestling contingent on Friday. Sehrawat, who turned 21 on July 16, notched up a commanding 13-5 win over Puerto Rico’s Darian Cruz in a high-intensity third-place contest.
Earlier than him, the celebrated P V Sindhu held the title of being India’s youngest Olympic podium finisher after she claimed a silver within the 2016 Video games on the age of 21 years, one month and 14 days.
Sehrawat has not even accomplished a month since turning 21. His effort helped India win its sixth medal and transfer nearer to the Tokyo Video games tally of seven. The nation has to date secured one silver and 5 bronze, together with in the present day’s medal.
“It has been a very long time since I gained a medal for my nation. I needed to do one thing about it. I wish to say to the folks of India that I’ll positively win a gold for you in 2028,” the teen, who was raised by his grandfather after dropping his mother and father as a baby, mentioned after his triumph.
“The goal was gold however I needed to be content material with bronze this time. I needed to neglect the semifinal defeat. I advised myself, let it go and deal with subsequent. Sushil pehlawan ji gained two medals, I’ll win in 2028 after which in 2032 additionally,” he added enthusiastically.
The U-23 world champion was the lone Indian male wrestler to qualify for the Paris Video games and he didn’t disappoint. Wrestling has not missed a medal on the Olympics since 2008 and Sehrawat’s effort ensured the streak remained unbroken.
Sushil Kumar broke the glass ceiling by successful the bronze in Beijing (2008), and since then Yogeshwar Dutt (2012), Sakshi Malik (2016), Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia (2021) have stored the custom intact.
Coach Jagmender Singh and Virender Dahiya mentioned they spent a sleepless evening to watch Sehrawat’s weight.
“We took particular precautions to cut back his weight. We stored checking his weight each hour. We did not sleep the entire evening,” Dahiya mentioned.
Lifts spirits of wrestling contingent
Lots was anticipated from ladies wrestlers however Antim Panghal (53kg), Anshu Malik (57kg), and Nisha Dahiya (68kg) couldn’t attain the medal rounds of their respective classes.
Then again, Vinesh Phogat (50kg) misplaced regardless of coming into the ultimate as she was disqualified from the gold-medal bout for being 100gm chubby.
The disqualification led to an enormous uproar within the nation and Vinesh has challenged her ouster within the ad-hoc division of the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The listening to concluded on Friday and a call is predicted by Sunday night.
Teenager Panghal additionally landed herself in hassle for sending her sister to the Video games Village on her accreditation card. She was deported alongside together with her entourage on Thursday after a first-round loss.
Reveals off aggressive strikes
It was a fast-paced bout with fast strikes from the 2 rival wrestlers.
As soon as Sehrawat obtained a measure of his opponent, he didn’t give a lot of an opportunity to the Puerto Rican.
He constructed a wholesome 6-3 lead by the top of first interval with consecutive takedown strikes.
As is normally the case, Sehrawat, who thrives on a high-endurance sport, first tried to put on down his opponent after which went for the kill.
With dominating technical-superiority wins over Vladimir Egorov and Zelimkhan Abakarov, the Indian wrestler stormed into the semifinals with out conceding a single level however was no match for Japan’s Rei Higuchi within the semifinals.
Powerful starting
Having misplaced his mother and father at a young age of 11, the famed Chhatrasal stadium — the place his father had enrolled him in 2013 — turned Sehrawat’s second house.
The stadium that turned his shelter was the one gave India 4 Olympic medallists — Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya.
And Sehrawat ensured that he joined the roll of honour because the youngest among the many giants who did it earlier than him.
Reetika Hooda (76kg) will probably be in motion on Saturday, and if she wins a medal, India will match its Tokyo tally.
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