North India Statesman
Indian wrestling sensation and Paris Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat added another monumental milestone to his resume by capturing the gold medal in the men’s freestyle 57kg category at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya. In an electric, edge-of-the-seat final, the 23-year-old staged a vintage late comeback to defeat DPR Korea’s reigning world champion Han Chong Song 11-7. The victory makes Sehrawat the first Indian wrestler to secure an Asian Games gold medal in the men’s 57kg division, elevating his 2022 Hangzhou bronze to the top step of the podium.
Thrilling Final: From 6-7 Deficit to Gold in Final 30 Seconds
The gold medal bout showcased tactical grit and resilience from both grapplers. Sehrawat took the initiative early, capitalizing right after an initial injury stoppage to surge into a commanding 6-1 lead. However, Han demonstrated why he is the reigning world champion, using a tactical break to disrupt momentum before launching aggressive counter-attacks to pin down the Indian star and take a 7-6 lead heading into the final minute. With barely 30 seconds left on the clock and the gold slipping away, Sehrawat executed a decisive takedown and turn, racking up five unanswered points to lock in an 11-7 triumph.
Road to Glory: Comeback Wins Define Tournament Run
Sehrawat’s path to the top of the podium was marked by determined comebacks under pressure. He opened his campaign with an emphatic 20-9 win over Japan’s Yamato Ogawa in the round of 16, followed by a dominant 12-1 technical superiority display against Kazakhstan’s Nurdanat Aitanov in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he trailed 2-6 against Tajikistan’s Aiaal Belolyubskii before unleashing an explosive 12-point rally in the second period to take a 14-8 victory and seal his spot in the gold medal match.
India’s Mat Dominance Continues at Nagoya
Aman’s historic victory secured India’s second gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2026 Asian Games, following Sujeet Kalkal’s triumph in the 65kg category. Hailing from Chhatrasal Stadium—India’s renowned wrestling nursery—Sehrawat continues his meteoric rise on the international circuit. Having already earned the distinction of being India’s youngest-ever individual Olympic medallist at Paris 2024, his thrilling win against Han Chong Song cements his status as a leading world-class contender heading into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic cycle.
