Asian Games Gold Medallist Aman Sehrawat Opens Up About Weight Management and Career Goals

Indian Express•Published: Oct 10, 2026 08:20 AM IST

Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat recently reflected on his dominant performance at the Asian Games, highlighting how keeping his weight under control helped him secure a historic gold medal in the 57 kg category. He defeated reigning World Champion Han Chong Song in a tense final, successfully executing his trademark celebration of running with the Indian flag. The victory marked a major turnaround for the 23-year-old athlete following previous health setbacks and struggles with weight management.

• Weight Management Success: Aman revealed that this was the first time in the past year that he managed to keep his weight completely under control, avoiding the health and stomach issues that plagued him during the World Championships.
• Tactical Adjustments: Working alongside freestyle team coach Bentinidis Shako, Aman improved his defensive strategy to avoid conceding early points and successfully adapted his high-scoring bout style.
• Historic Final Victory: He claimed India's first-ever gold in the men's freestyle 57 kg category by overcoming reigning World Champion Han Chong Song 11-7 in a hard-fought final bout.
• Future Tournament Plans: Aman and his coaching staff remain uncertain about participating in the upcoming World Championships due to the short recovery window and gruelling weight cut requirements.

The Context & Background

Following a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, Aman faced suspension by the Wrestling Federation of India after failing to make weight for the World Championships due to health struggles. With the guidance of coach Shako, he has refined his technique and shifted his long-term focus toward securing qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Why it matters:Aman Sehrawat's successful comeback highlights the brutal physical demands of weight-class wrestling and the critical importance of sports science and coaching in athlete longevity. Overcoming his past health setbacks to win gold bolsters India's standing in international freestyle wrestling and sets a strong foundation for the upcoming 2028 Olympic qualification cycle.

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