Aman Sehrawat Holds His Nerve to Win Wrestling Gold in Dramatic 57kg Final at Asian Games 2026

Aman Sehrawat has upgraded his Asian Games medal from bronze to gold, winning the men’s freestyle 57kg title at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 after an extraordinary 11-7 victory over North Korea’s Han Chong Song.

The Indian appeared to have control of the final after taking a 4-1 lead into the break. But what followed was a dramatic reversal as Han launched a sustained attack, overturning Aman’s advantage and moving 7-6 ahead with only a minute remaining.

Aman, however, saved his best wrestling for the decisive moment. With the gold medal hanging in the balance, the Indian produced a four-point sequence in the closing seconds, taking Han down and turning him on the mat to move 10-7 ahead. Han’s unsuccessful challenge then handed Aman another point, taking the score to 11-7.

The final whistle confirmed it.

Aman Sehrawat was an Asian Games champion.

A controlled opening

The final began as a tightly contested affair, with both wrestlers looking for openings in the early exchanges. Aman established the first significant advantage after Han was penalised for passivity. The Indian then followed it with a two-point scoring move to take a 2-1 lead.

There was some confusion around the scoring as officials reviewed the sequence, but Aman eventually carried the advantage into the next phase of the contest. His movement and timing began to create openings.

Aman produced a superb takedown, attacking Han’s left leg and bringing him to the mat. The North Korean appeared to be in discomfort after the exchange but continued. Another takedown from Aman soon followed.

The Indian went into the interval with a 4-1 lead, having built his advantage through calculated attacks rather than allowing Han to dictate the tempo. At that stage, Aman appeared to be in control.

But the final was far from over.

Han turns the match around

Han returned from the break with a completely different level of urgency. The North Korean began attacking aggressively, forcing Aman into defensive positions and eventually finding a takedown of his own. He then turned Aman for additional points.

Another sequence followed, with Han continuing to attack from behind. Within a remarkably short period, Aman’s 6-1 advantage had disappeared and the scoreboard read 7-6 in Han’s favour.

The momentum had completely shifted.

With just a minute remaining, Aman was suddenly facing the possibility of losing a final that he had controlled for large stretches. The response was immediate.

Aman needed an attacking solution, and he found it at exactly the right moment. The Indian secured his position and launched a takedown, earning two points before turning Han on the mat for two more.

It was a four-point sequence that completely transformed the final. Aman moved from 6-7 down to 10-7 ahead. Han challenged the scoring, hoping to overturn the decision.

The challenge was unsuccessful. That handed Aman another point, stretching his lead to 11-7.

There was no time left for another comeback. The Indian had survived the most difficult passage of the final and regained control when it mattered most.

From Hangzhou bronze to Asian Games gold

The victory marks a significant progression for Aman. At the Hangzhou Asian Games, he won bronze in the men’s 57kg freestyle category. Three years later, he has moved to the top of the podium.

The upgrade reflects the trajectory of an Indian wrestler who has increasingly established himself at the highest level of the 57kg division. But the manner of this victory makes the gold particularly memorable.

Aman did not simply lead from start to finish. He had to withstand a six-point swing, recover from a 7-6 deficit and then produce his biggest scoring sequence of the final in its closing stages.

Aman’s triumph is also India’s second wrestling gold medal at these Asian Games, following Sujeet Kalkal’s victory. His gold adds another major success to an already productive day for Indian wrestling.

Antim Panghal has also reached the women’s 53kg final, while Deepak Punia remains in contention for bronze. For Aman, though, the focus belongs entirely to the gold medal now around his neck.

The final could easily have slipped away when Han turned a 6-1 deficit into a 7-6 lead. Instead, Aman produced the response of a champion. He attacked when he needed to attack, scored four crucial points in one sequence, benefited from the failed challenge and then protected his advantage until the final whistle.

At Hangzhou, Aman Sehrawat stood on the podium with bronze. At Aichi-Nagoya, he has climbed all the way to the top.

Aman Sehrawat is the Asian Games 2026 men’s freestyle 57kg champion.