Paris, Aug 8 (UNI) Aman Sehrawat's brilliance was on full display at the Paris 2024 Olympics as he executed a flawless "fitele" move, securing a dominant 12-0 victory over Albania’s Zelimkhan Abakarov in the men’s 57kg freestyle quarterfinal on Thursday.
The swift and precise maneuver, where Sehrawat expertly caught Zelimkhan's ankles and twirled him around in rapid succession, left the Albanian world champion stunned and unable to recover.
This decisive move, delivered in the second round with just over two minutes remaining, not only highlighted Sehrawat's technical prowess but also added nine points to his score, ensuring a resounding win by technical superiority.
Zelimkhan, Albania’s first-ever wrestling world champion, struggled to find answers against the relentless Indian grappler. From the outset, Sehrawat, the reigning Asian Championships winner, controlled the bout, leaving his opponent with no opportunity to mount a counter-offensive.
With this emphatic victory, Sehrawat has secured his place in the semifinals, where he is set to face top-seeded Rei Higuchi of Japan, a Rio 2016 silver medallist. The highly anticipated match is scheduled for tonight at 9:45 PM IST, with a win potentially earning India its first wrestling medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
As the nation holds its breath, hopes are high that Sehrawat's remarkable journey at these Games will culminate in a historic medal for India.
Earlier in the day, Sehrawat continued his impressive run at Paris by storming into the quarterfinals of the men's 57kg freestyle wrestling event. He defeated Vladimir Egorov of North Macedonia with a commanding 10-0 victory in the round of 16.
The Asian champion displayed exceptional technique and dominance, securing the win on technical superiority with two minutes remaining in the second period. His performance not only earned him a spot in the quarter-finals but also raised expectations for a potential medal in wrestling for India.
In the semi-final, Aman had faced a formidable challenge against Zelimkhan, a world champion in the same weight category.
UNI BDN CS1802