Aman Sehrawat, India's lone male wrestler at the Paris Olympics, was outclassed by Japan's Rei Higuchi by technical superiority (10-0) in the freestyle 57kg semi-finals on Thursday (August 8). Aman will battle for the bronze medal against Puerto Rico's Darian Cruz on Friday. (Highlights | Medal Table | Schedule & Results)
Aman, who had raised hopes of entering the final after two big wins against high-profile opponents in the earlier rounds, was no match for the 28-year-old Higuchi, the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist, as the Japanese toyed with the Indian to stamp his superiority with a 10-0 win in just over two minutes.
Higuchi's superior technique was evident in the first few seconds when he attacked Aman's legs to take a 4-0 lead.
The Japanese, a former world champion in 2022 at Belgrade in the 61kg category, kept up the pressure on the Indian, targeting Aman's legs and effecting regular throw downs with ease to garner six more points to end the contest.
Aman had earlier rekindled the country's hopes, demolishing former world champion Zelimkhan Abakarov of Albania by technical superiority to seal a place in the semifinal.
Aman was in imperious form as he toyed with Abakarov in the second round. Aman locked the opponent's legs at the start of the second round and flipped him over multiple times to earn eight straight points to secure a 12-0 victory.
Aman's pre-quarterfinal round was also a cakewalk as he ensured an easy passage into the last-eight with a dominating performance against North Macedonian rival Vladimir Egorov.
(With PTI inputs)
