From tragedy to triumph: Aman Sehrawat's journey from loss and depression to wrestling glory

Aman Sherawat was just 10 years old when Sushil Kumar won the silver medal for wrestling in the London Olympics. He was then watching Sushil's games live on television. With Sushil's silver, Aman Sehrawat also made a decision - to learn wrestling and win a medal for the country. After 12 years, Aman achieved the goal. He bagged the bronze medal in wrestling for the country.

Life never a bed of roses

Learning wrestling was never a cakewalk for Aman, son of farmer Sombir Sehrawat and Kamlesh at Birohar in Jhar district, Haryana. His childhood was plagued by economic hardships. No matter how hard it was for his father Sombir to support his son’s dream, he never stood in the way of his son's wish. 

Aman left home to learn wrestling in Chhatrasal. However, another tragedy awaited him. First, Aman lost his mother and a year later his father. He could not bear to lose his parents at such a tender age. It was the intervention of his grandfather Mangeram Sehrawat that brought him back to the ‘wrestling ring’ after slipping into depression.

"If it was easy, everyone would have chosen it." – these are the words found on Aman's bed in the hostel at Chhatrasal, the nursery of Indian wrestling. It can be read from Aman's career that what was said is true. Behind every achievement, he had to make so many sacrifices. Meanwhile, he also had to beat down his idol Ravi Kumar Dahiya.

Aman met his idol Sushil several times after he started his training at Chhatrasal. He also got several opportunities to get trained together with Sushil. Aman is currently training under Lalit Kumar. 

So far, five Olympic medals have been born from Chhatrasal – Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya and now, Aman Sehrawat.

Aman is closest to Ravi Dahiya at Chhatrasal. He would watch Dahiya practice intently. Aman took care to adapt many of Dahiya's tricks to his own style. He has tried to train and eat like Ravi. Both have similar wrestling styles. Both will compete in the men's 57kg freestyle.

Aman beats Dahiya

Aman had lost to Ravi in ​​the 2022 Commonwealth Games trials. Aman then tried to understand how he lost by watching the match video everyday.

They fought again in the 2024 Asian Olympic Qualifiers. Aman had overcome his shortcomings. He got his ticket to Paris by beating Dahiya, who had come back from injury. Aman was also the only Indian male athlete to qualify in wrestling.

Aman competed in the National Championship for the first time in 2021. Lalit Kumar was the coach then also. Aman's career-changing success came two years ago. He became the first Indian to win gold in the U-23 World Championship. 

Aman has come to the forefront of Indian wrestling after winning bronze in the Asian Games.