For several months, Aman Sehrawat, hailed as Indian wrestling’s most promising talent, endured a persistent jab at his training ground – the term “dheela” echoing through the akhara. This label, meaning ‘loose’ or ‘slack,’ wasn’t a critique of his calm demeanor but a commentary, often laced with sarcasm and frustration, on his initial wrestling approach in bouts. On Wednesday, as Sehrawat secured the 57kg title at the UWW Ranking Series in Zagreb with a convincing 10-0 victory over China’s Wanhao Zou, the echoes of that criticism might have lingered.
In the opening round of the tournament, Sehrawat faced a hiccup, allowing Turkey’s M Karavus to score a quick four-point takedown within the first 10 seconds. However, this setback served as a wake-up call for the 20-year-old wrestler. Subsequently, Sehrawat exhibited a remarkable transformation, dominating his opponents with speed and aggression. Notably, in the final against Karavus, Sehrawat swiftly claimed 10 consecutive points to kick off the Olympic year with a gold medal.
In a year marked by challenges for Indian wrestling, including player protests, allegations of sexual harassment against former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, international suspension, and domestic turmoil, Sehrawat’s triumph stands as a rare beacon of positive news.
Equally delighted was Sehrawat’s coach, Lalit Kumar, who received the prestigious Dronacharya Award on Tuesday. Kumar expressed satisfaction that the off-season efforts to address Sehrawat’s slow starts had paid off. He emphasized the continuous dedication to improvement, stating, “There weren’t many tournaments in the last few months, but we didn’t stop working even for a day. The entire time was used to improve his starts. It took some time to drill the idea into his mind that, to succeed at the Olympics and clinch a medal, he can’t afford to be ‘dheela’ even for a second on the mat.”
Sehrawat vs Dahiya for Olympic spot
Securing a spot at the Olympics and standing on the podium goes beyond mere rhetoric. Aman Sehrawat, hailing from Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium, is widely regarded as the next in line to follow the illustrious footsteps of the academy’s alumni, including Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Bajrang Punia, and Ravi Dahiya – all of whom are Olympic medalists.
Despite being in only his second year in senior wrestling, the prospect of the Paris Olympics might seem a bit premature for the junior world champion and senior Asian champion in the 57kg weight class. However, this hasn’t deterred him from gearing up for a potential face-off with his idol, Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Ravi Dahiya, at the upcoming selection trials next month. The victor in these trials will earn the first opportunity to secure an Olympic berth at an April qualifying event. Yet, even that may not guarantee a ticket to Paris, as the final trials for the Paris Olympics are anticipated on May 31 and June 1, determining the ultimate representative for the 57kg category.
The competition between the nation’s two premier lightweight wrestlers may result in multiple bouts to determine the sole representative in the 57kg category. While Ravi Dahiya seemed like the obvious choice due to his international pedigree, Aman Sehrawat’s steady ascent and Dahiya’s battles with injuries have added intrigue to the contest. The fact that Dahiya suffered a defeat to a relatively unknown wrestler from Maharashtra during the Asian Games trials, a competition Sehrawat navigated effortlessly, adds another layer to the narrative.
Symbolically, Dahiya has opted for France as the venue for his first international tournament in a year. Sehrawat, along with his coaches, will closely observe Dahiya’s performance next week. Lalit, Sehrawat’s coach, reflects on the situation, stating, “At Chhatrasal, we have always had a problem of plenty, so it’s not uncommon to have more than one world-class wrestler in a weight class. Both will be well prepared. Ravi has his team, and Aman trains with me, as he has since his childhood.”
Stint in Dagestan
At Chhatrasal, Aman Sehrawat’s renowned upper-body strength and agile leg work have been subjects of admiration for years. However, in recent months, coach Lalit has dedicated efforts to enhance Sehrawat’s reaction time at the commencement of a bout.
Identifying this as a significant shortcoming in Sehrawat’s game, Lalit emphasizes that it became glaringly apparent during last year’s World Championship. Lalit recalls reprimanding Sehrawat after the event, recognizing that for him to succeed in major competitions, an improved start is imperative. Lalit stresses, “He can’t be dheela.”
During the off-season, Sehrawat underwent focused training, sparring with quicker partners to test and enhance his reaction speed. Modifications were made to his diet to amplify speed, and short sprints became integral to his routine.
Acknowledging that Sehrawat remains a work in progress, Lalit reveals the wrestler’s upcoming journey to Dagestan, one of the world’s foremost wrestling hubs. This marks Sehrawat’s first venture outside India, or more precisely, beyond the confines of Chhatrasal Stadium, for training.
During this stint, Sehrawat will engage with new sparring partners, encountering diverse styles and techniques from wrestlers worldwide. Lalit emphasizes, “It’ll be a short stint, aimed at putting the finishing touches on his preparations before the selection trials next month.”
