For Aman Sehrawat, winning an Olympic bronze medal meant more than just a tough fight on the mat — it required a relentless battle with the scales. After a heartbreaking semi-final loss to Japan’s Rei Higuchi on Thursday, Aman faced an even bigger challenge: shedding 4.5 kilograms in just 10 hours to qualify for the 57 kg bronze medal bout.
When Aman stepped on the scale after his semi-final defeat, the machine read 61.5 kg, far above the 57 kg limit. The clock was ticking, and Aman, along with his coaches Jagmander Singh and Virender Dahiya, had to embark on an intense weight-cutting mission.
What Aman Sehrawat had to do
The gruelling process began immediately. A 90-minute mat session was followed by a one-hour hot bath to help Aman sweat out the extra weight. At 12:30 am, the team hit the gym, where Aman ran non-stop on the treadmill for an hour. This was followed by a short break, and then five sessions of five-minute sauna baths.
Despite the exhaustive efforts, Aman was still 900 grams over the limit. After a massage, he was back to light jogging and then five more 15-minute running sessions. By 4:30 am, Aman finally hit the target, weighing in at 56.9 kg — just 100 grams under the critical limit.
ALSO READ: How Vinesh Phogat tried to lose weight
Throughout the night, Aman was sustained by lukewarm water with lemon and honey, and a bit of coffee. He didn’t sleep, instead spending the hours watching videos of wrestling bouts. His coaches, equally on edge, monitored his weight every hour, determined not to repeat the heartbreak experienced by Vinesh Phogat, who missed out on her match due to a weight-cutting mishap.
What his coach said
“The weight cutting is routine for us, but there was a lot of tension this time, especially after what happened with Vinesh. We couldn’t let another medal slip away,” Coach Dahiya admitted.
Their hard work paid off. Aman Sehrawat not only made weight but went on to defeat Puerto Rico’s Darian Cruz, securing the bronze medal and becoming India’s youngest ever Olympic medallist.
The journey was nothing short of extraordinary, highlighting the physical and mental endurance required to compete at the highest level. Aman’s determination and his coaches’ unwavering support turned a near-impossible situation into a historic achievement for Indian wrestling.
