Aman Sehrawat bears visible scars on his neck, blood trickling from his teeth, and cuts on his lips. Scratch marks are evident beneath and above his left eye. Nonetheless, he raises his phone with one hand to display a wallpaper featuring an Asian Games gold medal inscribed with “I am champion,” while holding the actual medal in his other hand.
He then reflects on his motivation, or the lack thereof.
The aftermath of the Olympics has proven challenging for the 57kg wrestler. Although it wasn’t a deep existential crisis as experienced by some athletes, the transition from the excitement of Paris 2024 to the subsequent year felt “odd.” He notes, “I was winning the selection trials convincingly, yet I felt a sense of emptiness inside.”
A recurring stomach issue exacerbated his struggles. He found it difficult to digest food, resulting in him missing weight for the World Championship and being unable to participate in the continental event. On certain days, even the routine of wrestling became burdensome. “My motivation significantly declined,” he admits. “I started overanalyzing, questioning how I missed out on tournaments.”
At 23 years old, Aman had left Paris with a straightforward goal for the next four years: to triumph in every competition leading up to the Los Angeles Olympics. Instead, tournaments unfolded without his participation, and dwelling on those missed opportunities only diminished his enthusiasm further.
However, during his first competition in the 57kg category since Paris on Saturday, his passion reignited. Aman triumphed over reigning world champion Han Chong-Song, securing a gold medal with an 11-7 victory, marking India’s second wrestling title following Sujeet Kalkal’s win the day prior.
Han was determined to challenge Aman fiercely, staying low and seizing opportunities to attack his legs whenever possible. Aman started strong, establishing a 6-1 advantage, but Han gradually altered the dynamics of the match. At one point, he appeared to injure his ankle, only to quickly recover and press the attack.
As Han gained momentum, the match shifted from a seemingly controlled situation to a frantic scramble. The score transitioned from 6-1 to 6-3, then 6-5, and eventually 6-7. Aman, who had dictated the flow of the match, found himself responding to Han’s aggressive tactics.
Instead of hastily chasing points, Aman returned to targeting his opponent’s legs. He powered through Han to regain the lead, followed by another takedown, using a gut wrench to roll the North Korean wrestler over, expanding his lead to 10-7. Despite Han’s desperate attempts to escape, Aman maintained his grip. As the clock wound down, he pushed Han towards the edge and forced a final step-out, finalizing the score at 11-7.
There was no dramatic move or last-minute rescue; Aman simply reverted to the wrestling style he trusted, and once he did, Han was unable to keep him at bay.
Aman recognizes the intense competition in the 57kg category, particularly in India, where the depth of talent is significant. A medal winner in one tournament can easily be replaced by another in the next. “So, maintaining this level is no small feat,” he adds.
This gold medal, therefore, holds more significance for him than others on his shelf. It is a testament that his journey towards Los Angeles remains on track, even if the path did not unfold as he had envisioned. “2025 was quite unusual for me,” he reflects. “It’s not that my performances were poor; I dominated the trials at home. I convincingly won the 2026 Asian Championships. I never felt defeated, but missing the World Championship and the Asian Championship left me feeling somewhat hollow.”
His account carries little self-pity, more a sense of frustration over how his health interrupted the plans he had set for himself.
Missing the World Championships was particularly painful for Aman. With an Olympic bronze, an Asian Championships silver, and a strong belief that a world title was attainable, the infection that hindered his ability to make weight resulted in a lost opportunity.
Yet, after defeating the reigning world champion, he now perceives that missed opportunity differently. “Koi nahi,” he reassures himself. “Ab jo World Championship hai, woh tere naam hai.” Forget it. The next World Championship is yours.
While the Asian Games gold cannot replace the year he lost, he believes this medal will reignite his motivation. “Having won against the world champion strengthens my chances of becoming a world champion myself,” he asserts. He pauses before adding, “This will also inspire me as I prepare for the Olympics.”
Until recently, the image of an Olympic medal for LA adorned his phone. After the selection trials, he switched it to the Asian Games gold, a new target to strive for. Now, with the genuine Asian Games gold medal in hand, he plans to revert his wallpaper back to the LA Olympic medal.
Mihir Vasavda has built an extensive career over 18 years, covering notable events such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the London 2012, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Asian Games in 2014 and 2022, the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2018, as well as the Hockey World Cups in 2018 and 2023, and the 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup.
