Aman Sehrawat delivered a dramatic performance to defeat reigning world champion Han Chong-song 11-7 and secure the men’s 57kg freestyle gold medal at the Asian Games 2026.
Competing at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Centre, Aman appeared in control after opening up a 6-1 advantage. However, Han mounted a strong comeback, scoring three two-point moves to take a 7-6 lead.
With the clock ticking down, Aman responded decisively. He earned four points through a takedown and a roll to regain the lead at 10-7.
Han challenged the scoring, but the appeal failed, and he conceded another point, leaving Aman 11-7 ahead.
The Indian wrestler held his ground during the final 30 seconds to complete a memorable victory and become the first Indian to win an Asian Games gold in the men’s 57kg freestyle category.
Aman entered the final after producing another comeback in the semifinals. He defeated Tajikistan’s Aiaal Belolyubskii 14-8 after trailing 2-6 at the end of the opening period.
Aman then scored 12 points in the second period while giving away only two.
Earlier, he opened his campaign with a 20-9 technical-superiority victory over Japan’s Yamato Ogawa before defeating Kazakhstan’s Nurdanat Aitanov 12-1 in the quarterfinals.
The gold adds to Aman’s growing international record. He won bronze at the Paris Olympics and also secured bronze at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Earlier, Sujeet Kalkal ended India’s wait for wrestling gold at the Games by defeating Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiyev 10-9 in the men’s 65kg final. Sujeet overturned a 2-9 deficit by scoring eight straight points late in the bout.
With Aman’s triumph, India have now won two men’s freestyle wrestling gold medals at the Asian Games for the first time since 1978.
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