Asian Games 2026: Aman Sehrawat Faces a Gruelling Route to Asian Games Gold

Aman Sehrawat begins his Asian Games 2026 campaign on Saturday with a clear objective: improve on his bronze medal from Hangzhou and fight his way to the top of the podium in the men’s 57kg freestyle category.

The Indian wrestler enters one of the most competitive weight classes of the tournament, with the 21-man draw featuring the reigning world champion, two Olympic bronze medallists and several established continental contenders. Unlike a straightforward knockout bracket, the structure has created a particularly demanding route for Aman, who finds himself in the crowded lower half.

Aman does have one important advantage: he receives a direct bye into the round of 16. But waiting for him could be Uzbekistan’s Olympic bronze medallist Gulomjon Abdullaev, creating a potentially difficult opening test.

The lower half begins with a qualification bout between Abdullaev and Japan’s Yamato Ogawa. Abdullaev enters the tournament with significant international experience, including an Olympic bronze medal from Paris. He is an explosive counter-wrestler who combines low-level attacks with strong pummelling and is particularly dangerous when opponents commit too heavily to their offensive entries.

Ogawa, meanwhile, will have the home crowd behind him. The 20-year-old Japanese wrestler is the 2026 U20 World bronze medallist and brings an active style built around ankle picks, lateral re-attacks and strong mat awareness. The winner must then face Aman in the round of 16.

That gives Aman a significant physical advantage if Abdullaev advances: the Uzbek would have already wrestled a six-minute qualification bout before facing the fresh Indian.

But there is also a psychological element. Abdullaev defeated Aman 10-0 at the 2024 Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Bishkek, exposing the Indian's early leg attacks and converting his opportunities into gut-wrench points.

Aman arrives in Nagoya as a much more experienced wrestler than he was then. Since that defeat, he has won an Olympic bronze medal in Paris and claimed gold at the 2026 Budapest Ranking Series. His progression has been built around improved defence, relentless attacking volume and the ability to maintain his pace deep into matches.

Aman’s biggest weapon: the second period

Aman possesses unusual height and reach for the 57kg category, allowing him to attack from distance with outside singles and ankle picks. But his most important weapon could be his conditioning.

The Indian is known for increasing his offensive output as matches progress, while opponents can struggle to maintain their defensive reactions during the later stages. That characteristic could be particularly valuable in a tournament being conducted within a single day. If Aman reaches the quarterfinals, he is projected to face Kazakhstan's Nurdanat Aitanov or Cambodia's Soeun Sophors. Aitanov, a 2025 U20 World bronze medallist, represents the more significant threat, but the gap in senior international experience remains substantial.

Aman’s route therefore becomes increasingly difficult with each round, but the Indian has the physical profile to benefit from prolonged matches.

The other side of the lower branch features Iran's Ali Momeni, who faces Tajikistan's Aiaal Belolyubskii in the round of 16. Momeni is one of the rising names in Iranian freestyle wrestling. The 20-year-old won the 2025 Takhti Cup and the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series title and relies on heavy underhooks, chest-to-chest attacks and a powerful fireman's carry. He also holds a 2-0 international record against Belolyubskii.

Momeni is projected to progress through the quarterfinal against South Korea's Kim Sung-gwon, potentially setting up a semifinal against Aman. That matchup would provide a completely different challenge.

Momeni will want to close the distance, establish underhooks and prevent Aman from using his reach. Aman, meanwhile, will need to keep the Iranian at the end of his attacks, using movement, fakes and long-range leg entries.

The Indian's conditioning could again become decisive if he can keep the contest in a high-tempo rhythm.

The other half contains the biggest gold threat

While Aman negotiates the lower branch, the upper half is dominated by North Korea's Han Chong-song and Kyrgyzstan's Bekzat Almaz Uulu. Han enters as the reigning 2025 World Champion and Asian Champion, making him the benchmark of the 57kg field. His wrestling is built around an exceptionally low stance, rapid snap-downs and explosive sweep singles. He is also highly effective in par terre, allowing him to convert takedowns into additional points.

Almaz Uulu, the 2025 world silver medallist and Paris Olympic fifth-place finisher, provides the other major challenge. The two are projected to meet in the semifinal, setting up a rematch of the 2025 World Championship final, where Han defeated Almaz Uulu. If Han advances, Aman could face the world champion in the gold-medal bout.

What Aman must do for gold

For Aman, the championship equation is clear. He needs to avoid an early upset against a dangerous opponent, manage his energy through potentially four bouts and use his reach and conditioning to turn matches into six-minute contests. His lower-half position also means he could face some of the tournament's toughest wrestlers before reaching the final.

But Aman is no longer the wrestler who suffered a 10-0 defeat to Abdullaev in 2024. He is an Olympic medallist, a former U23 world champion and the reigning Asian Games bronze medallist. His development since Paris has given him the experience to handle high-pressure international matches. The potential final against Han would be the ultimate test: the reigning world champion's explosive technical game against Aman's reach, pace and late-match conditioning.

Aman has already stood on the Asian Games podium once. In Nagoya, he has the opportunity to climb to its highest step.