Full Breakdown
Aman Sehrawat’s Asian Games Gold Marks a Comeback After a Troubled 2025
By Drooid · · How we work
The Victory in Aichi-Nagoya
On October 3, 2026, India’s 23-year-old wrestler Aman Sehrawat captured the men’s freestyle 57 kg gold medal at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, defeating North Korea’s reigning world champion Han Chong-Song 11-7. He secured a decisive step-out in the final period to seal the margin.
Background & Context
Sehrawat entered the 2026 Games after a challenging 2025 season. Stomach problems and weight-management issues forced him to miss the World Championship and the Asian Championship, despite winning domestic selection trials and the 2026 Asian Championships later that year. He described the period as “strange” and “empty,” noting a dip in motivation.
His résumé includes a bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a bronze at the 2022 Asian Games, a gold at the 2023 Asian Wrestling Championships, and a gold at the 2022 Under-23 World Championships. These results made him a contender for the 2026 World Championship and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Data & Statistics
- Final score vs. Han Chong-Song: 11-7.
- Semifinal comeback vs. Aiaal Belolyubskii (Tajikistan): trailed 2-6, rallied to win 14-8.
- Round-of-16 victory over Japan’s Yamato Ogawa: 20-0 technical superiority.
- Quarterfinal win over Kazakhstan’s Nurdanat Aitanov: 12-1.
- Asian Games wrestling tally for India: 4 medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze).
Official Statements & Responses
Sehrawat said the gold’s significance lies in consistency, noting the 57 kg category “does not wait for anyone” in India’s deep talent pool. He framed the victory as proof that his path toward the Los Angeles Olympics remains intact and expressed confidence that the upcoming World Championship is within reach.
Why It Matters
The win restores momentum for India’s wrestling program ahead of the 2028 Olympics, reinforcing Sehrawat’s status as a potential world champion. Defeating a reigning world champion after health-related interruptions offers a recovery narrative for younger athletes.
Timeline
- 2022 – Bronze at Asian Games (Hangzhou); gold at U-23 World Championships (Spain).
- 2023 – Gold at Asian Wrestling Championships (Kazakhstan).
- 2024 – Bronze in men’s 57 kg at Paris Olympics.
- 2025 – Missed World and Asian Championships due to illness; domestic trials won.
- 2026 – Won Asian Championships; October 3 – Asian Games gold in Aichi-Nagoya.
What’s Next
Sehrawat will focus on the forthcoming World Championship, viewing the Asian Games triumph as a stepping stone toward a world title and qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He plans to continue training at Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium under coach Lalit Kumar.