Once again, Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat delivered a commanding performance, using technical superiority to defeat Albania's Zelimkhan Abakarov with a decisive 11-0 victory. This win propels Sehrawat into the semifinals of the men’s 57kg freestyle wrestling at the Paris Olympics 2024. (Paris Olympics Medal Table | Schedule & Results | Full Coverage)
This is the second time today that Aman Sehrawat employed his technical superiority strategy. He was in outstanding form, easily dominating Abakarov. The 21-year-old Indian wrestler secured a 12-0 victory by locking his legs at the start of the second round and turning the Albanian over several times to score eight consecutive points.
The bout started with Aman earing a passivity point after his Russian-turned-Albanian opponent did not initiate any attacking move.
At one point, the referee issued a warning to Zelimkhan Abakarov for delaying the attack, which added a new dynamic to the closely contested match and a point to the Indian.
Moments later, the Indian effected a left-leg hold to earn two more points to showcase his dominance by going 3-0 up at the end of round 1.
Aman was on song in round 2 and Abakarov, world champion in 2022, bore the brunt. The Indian's superb agility against the 31-year-old Albanian was on display as he attacked the left leg to bring him down.
He then effected a 'fitley' (leg lace), turning the Albanian around several times to end the contest with more than two minutes to go.
Abakarov contested the last two points awarded to Sehrawat but the referee ruled in favour of the Indian and awarded him a point.
Aman will meet Japanese top seed Rei Higuchi in the last-four round later in the day.
Earlier, Aman ensured himself an easy passage into the quarterfinal with a dominating performance against North Macedonian rival Vladimir Egorov.
The 21-year-old Indian, an Asian Championships gold medallist and the only male wrestler from the country to qualify for the Olympics, was amazingly agile as he kept his defence intact while regularly overpowering his 29-year-old former European champion with leg holds to win the bout on technical superiority (10-0).
(With PTI Inputs)
