Aman says he is not satisfied with a medal at Paris and insists he will change the colour in Los Angeles in 2028.
| Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR
While the entire nation was waiting for CAS decision on Vinesh Phogat’s appeal, diminutive Aman Sehrawat was back at the Chhatrasal Stadium, gradually easing into his training routine.
India’s lone male wrestler at the Paris Olympics returned with bronze to ensure wrestling’s winning streak at the Games remained unbroken. And while the welcome he received on arrival was impressive, the bigger story around Vinesh overshadowed Aman’s achievement.
But the 21-year old, who became India’s youngest Olympic medallist, isn’t bothered by the fanfare. What he is upset about is that the colour of his medal doesn’t match the one on the posters he’s put up at his room in Chhatrasal.
“My posters are that of gold medal so that dream has not obviously not come true. My aim was to bring back gold but missed out due to small mistakes. I am happy at winning bronze because any medal at the Olympics is a big thing. But not winning gold hurts. Next time, I will make sure to change the colour of the medal,” he declared in an interaction with The Hindu on Tuesday.
For a nation starved of medals, to have a medallist dissatisfied with the colour of his is a sign of changing times where athletes do not consider only participation as an achievement. For Aman, it was tougher because the youngster had to contend with the uncertainty of his spot at the Olympics, thanks to the tussle between the elected WFI and the IOA-appointed ad-hoc committee that could not decide on final selection trials.
“It was a very difficult road to Paris success. There was little time to practice because every 15-20 days there would be some competition or trials and at my level, increasing and decreasing weight constantly so often can lead to long-term weakness and health issues and you cannot focus on training also. I earned a spot at the World Qualifiers but then for almost 10-15 days there was no decision on whether there will be trials or not. Only after it was finally decided that I could start focusing on the Olympics. I think it was the right decision but it would have been even better if they had announced it earlier,” he admitted.
Asked about his biggest strength, Aman said it was his stamina. “My target is always to extend the bout till the very end and not give the opponent enough points early on; the longer it continues, the more it will be in my favour,” he suggested.
But the biggest sign of a changed mindset was when he declared that the Olympics, for all the hype, are not very different from any other competition — on the mat.
“After wrestling at the Olympics, I feel it is not that difficult, there is nothing different from any other major competition. The difference is in the mind, the pressure that comes with the ‘Olympics’ tag. Before every bout I would feel the whole country watching me, not knowing what would happen on the mat. Pressure bahut aa gaya tha, bas dimag ka hi fark hai (there was a lot of pressure, the only difference is mental),” he claimed.
The only regret he has at the moment though is not being able to meet his sister on Rakshabandhan on Monday, busy with meetings. “I left at 6 am from here and returned at 12 night. Man to bahut tha milne ka but there was no time, I only spoke on the phone. Now people in my village have organised a welcome and felicitation on 22nd, so will go home then only,” the man of few words finally smiled.