Aman dominates trials, ‘ready’ for World Championship

Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat was hardly challenged in the World Championship selection trials while Sujeet Kalkal put on display tremendous counterattacking skills to lock his place in the national side. Next month’s World Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, will be Sehrawat’s second international event since he won a bronze in the Olympics in 2024.

The 22-year old settled for a bronze at the Mongolia Ranking Series event in June to make a comeback to competitive wrestling. On Monday, he looked sharper than what was on show in Mongolia.

The only points he lost to Sumit in his opening bout were push-out points as his double-leg attacks gave him complete control of the match. He won by technical superiority within the first period. The 57kg final against Rahul also turned out to be a lop-sided affair as Sehrawat again won by technical superiority and this time without conceding a point.

Sehrawat had Rahul in a head-lock position in the beginning, getting on the scoreboard with a push-out point. A right leg attack led to a two-pointer takedown.

Sehrawat moved very fast on the court. His moves were clear and he did not let Rahul make any move on him, finishing the final with authority. “I feel I am back to my best. My fitness is good and my rhythm is also back. I am ready for the World Championship,” Sehrawat said.

“I understand that I made a few mistakes in the Mongolia Ranking Series but that was my first competition after one year. I feel I didn’t do that bad, I was even leading 11-6, but I will take that defeat (in Mongolia) in my stride,” he added.

Sehrawat has not yet won a senior World Championship medal. He won medals at the 2022 Asian Games (bronze) and 2023 Asian Championship (gold).

The competition in the 65kg was fierce and in the end it was Kalkal who emerged the winner. From the level he was playing a year back, the youngster from Charkhi Dadri looked completely transformed.

His compact defence against both Anuj (10-0) and Vishal Kaliraman (8-4) stood out as he turned adverse positions into point-scoring opportunities with some intense counterattacking moves.

“Sujeet beat Russian and Kazakhstan wrestlers in Hungary. He has come up very fast. He clears tricky bouts. He will be an Olympics medal contender,” said India coach Vinod Kumar.

Deepak Punia, who has moved to 92kg after competing in 86kg in the Tokyo Olympics, also locked his place in the national side with dominant wins. The ‘ketli pehalwan’ needed only 73 seconds to down Manjeet before he prevailed over Sachin.

The other wrestlers making it to the men’s freestyle team are Udit (61kg), Sunny Kumar (63kg), Anil (67kg), Rohit (70kg), Jaideep (74kg), Amit (79kg), Mukul Dahiya (86kg), Vickey (97kg) and Rajat (125kg).