From Olympic bronze to Asian Games gold, Aman Sehrawat’s 11-7 win over world champion Han Chong-song marks another step in his rise.
Two years after winning bronze at the Paris Olympics, Aman Sehrawat stood at the centre of the mat in Japan with an Asian Games gold medal around his neck.
The 23-year-old had defeated North Korea’s reigning world champion Han Chong-song 11-7 in a hard-fought final. It was India’s first wrestling gold of these Asian Games and another step forward for a wrestler who had spent the past two years addressing the gaps exposed in Paris.
His Olympic bronze medal hangs on the wall of his single room at Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi. Beside it is a simple line:
“If it was easy, everyone would do it.”
After Paris, coach Lalit Kumar told Aman that there was still work to do. His technique needed refining, his body was still developing and some moves were not yet reliable enough under pressure. The approach was straightforward: start again and improve the details.
The twin-sharing room was replaced by a single room, giving Aman more space to focus on training and recovery.
A Close Final
The final against Han was competitive from the start.
Han brought considerable strength and pressure, while Aman repeatedly targeted the left leg. During the second period, a cut opened under Aman’s left eye, but he continued wrestling without interruption.
A single-leg takedown put him in front, followed by a gut-wrench and a leg lace. Han responded strongly and reduced the deficit, leaving Aman trailing 7-5 with around 30 seconds remaining.
Aman then produced the decisive sequence.
A throw brought him three points and moved him ahead 10-7. Another exchange followed, taking the score to 11-7 and securing the gold.
Lalit Kumar was pleased with the execution, particularly given how close the bout had become.
“The final was close, but I am happy he executed what we had worked on,” the coach said.
The message he had given Aman over the years remained simple: the reputation of the opponent should not change the way he wrestles.
A Steady Route to the Final
Aman had been convincing throughout the competition.
He began with a 20-9 win over Japan’s Yamoto Ogawa and followed it with a 12-1 victory against Kazakhstan’s Nurdanat Aitanov.
The semifinal against Tajikistan’s Aiaal Belolyubskii was more competitive, but Aman still prevailed 14-8.
That set up the final against Han, the reigning world champion.
The Challenge of 57 kg
Making the 57 kg category has been another part of Aman’s preparation.
With his height and increasing muscle mass, the weight limit is demanding. Earlier in the year, he competed mainly at 61 kg to avoid excessive weight cutting and reduce the risk of injury.
For the Asian Games, he began a planned 15-day weight cut and travelled to Japan on September 29, ahead of the rest of the team.
The preparation paid off. He made the weight and then completed the job on the mat.
A Different Result for Antim
India did not have the same outcome in the women’s 53 kg category.
Antim Panghal lost 1-9 to Japan’s Moe Kiyooka in the final, finishing with a silver medal.
For Aman, however, the Asian Games ended with the result he had been working towards since returning from Paris.
When he lifted the Indian flag on the podium, the mark beneath his eye was still visible. The moment was a contrast to the bronze medal hanging in his Delhi room two years earlier.
The next target is already clear: Los Angeles 2028.
The Asian Games gold adds another significant title to Aman’s record, but it also underlines how much has changed since Paris. The technical work, weight management and experience gained over the past two years have turned an Olympic medallist into an Asian champion.
For now, the gold medal goes back to Delhi with him. The work continues.
Two years after winning bronze at the Paris Olympics, Aman Sehrawat stood at the centre of the mat in Japan with an Asian Games gold medal around his neck.
The 23-year-old had defeated North Korea’s reigning world champion Han Chong-song 11-7 in a hard-fought final. It was India’s first wrestling gold of these Asian Games and another step forward for a wrestler who had spent the past two years addressing the gaps exposed in Paris.
His Olympic bronze medal hangs on the wall of his single room at Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi. Beside it is a simple line:
“If it was easy, everyone would do it.”
After Paris, coach Lalit Kumar told Aman that there was still work to do. His technique needed refining, his body was still developing and some moves were not yet reliable enough under pressure. The approach was straightforward: start again and improve the details.
The twin-sharing room was replaced by a single room, giving Aman more space to focus on training and recovery.
A Close Final
The final against Han was competitive from the start.
Han brought considerable strength and pressure, while Aman repeatedly targeted the left leg. During the second period, a cut opened under Aman’s left eye, but he continued wrestling without interruption.
A single-leg takedown put him in front, followed by a gut-wrench and a leg lace. Han responded strongly and reduced the deficit, leaving Aman trailing 7-5 with around 30 seconds remaining.
Aman then produced the decisive sequence.
A throw brought him three points and moved him ahead 10-7. Another exchange followed, taking the score to 11-7 and securing the gold.
Lalit Kumar was pleased with the execution, particularly given how close the bout had become.
“The final was close, but I am happy he executed what we had worked on,” the coach said.
The message he had given Aman over the years remained simple: the reputation of the opponent should not change the way he wrestles.
A Steady Route to the Final
Aman had been convincing throughout the competition.
He began with a 20-9 win over Japan’s Yamoto Ogawa and followed it with a 12-1 victory against Kazakhstan’s Nurdanat Aitanov.
The semifinal against Tajikistan’s Aiaal Belolyubskii was more competitive, but Aman still prevailed 14-8.
That set up the final against Han, the reigning world champion.
The Challenge of 57 kg
Making the 57 kg category has been another part of Aman’s preparation.
With his height and increasing muscle mass, the weight limit is demanding. Earlier in the year, he competed mainly at 61 kg to avoid excessive weight cutting and reduce the risk of injury.
For the Asian Games, he began a planned 15-day weight cut and travelled to Japan on September 29, ahead of the rest of the team.
The preparation paid off. He made the weight and then completed the job on the mat.
A Different Result for Antim
India did not have the same outcome in the women’s 53 kg category.
Antim Panghal lost 1-9 to Japan’s Moe Kiyooka in the final, finishing with a silver medal.
For Aman, however, the Asian Games ended with the result he had been working towards since returning from Paris.
When he lifted the Indian flag on the podium, the mark beneath his eye was still visible. The moment was a contrast to the bronze medal hanging in his Delhi room two years earlier.
The next target is already clear: Los Angeles 2028.
The Asian Games gold adds another significant title to Aman’s record, but it also underlines how much has changed since Paris. The technical work, weight management and experience gained over the past two years have turned an Olympic medallist into an Asian champion.
For now, the gold medal goes back to Delhi with him. The work continues.
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