Indian wrestling star Aman Sehrawat produced a tactical masterclass to defeat North Korea’s world champion Han Chong-song 11-7 in the men’s 57kg freestyle final at the Asian Games 2026 on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Paris Olympic bronze medallist controlled the center of the mat in Aichi-Nagoya, countering Han’s aggressive attacks to secure India’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal in the men’s 57kg freestyle category.
Watch: Aman Sehrawat vs Han Chong-song Asian Games 2026 Final
Aman!!! Asian Champion!! wins the 20th Gold medal for India!!! Asian Games 2026
In 57kg Category of freestyle wrestling defeating North Korean tricky wrestler!!https://t.co/fPmVBKhGUP pic.twitter.com/eTfirwJltu
— XUnfiltered (@XUnfiltere69061) October 3, 2026
Bout Breakdown: How Aman Sealed The 11-7 Victory
The gold medal match opened at a blistering pace, with North Korea’s Han Chong-song looking to use his low center of gravity to attack Aman’s legs early.
Aman stayed patient, defending the initial shoots before executing a lightning-fast leg sweep to score the opening two-point takedown.
Leading 4-2 at the end of the first three-minute period, the Indian wrestler stepped on the gas in the second half.
When Han attempted an aggressive duck-under, Aman read the move cleanly, spinning behind his opponent for a four-point exposure that stretched his advantage to 8-3.
Han fought back with two quick step-out points in the final minute, but Aman sealed the contest with a decisive counter-takedown in the dying seconds to close out the bout 11-7.
Historic Gold: India’s First 57kg Asian Games Title
Aman’s triumph represents a landmark moment for Indian wrestling on the continental stage.
While Indian greats like Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia have won major honors, India had never previously claimed a gold medal in the men’s 57kg freestyle division at the Asian Games.
The victory also served as personal redemption for Aman. He upgraded his bronze medal from the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, while Han settled for silver for the second consecutive edition.
Aman Sehrawat’s Rapid Rise: From Chhatrasal To Gold In Nagoya
Trained at Delhi’s famous Chhatrasal Stadium under coach Lalit Kumar, Aman continues to prove himself as one of the world’s most consistent lightweight wrestlers.
Since becoming the first Indian to win gold at the U23 World Championships in 2022, he has won the Senior Asian Championships, claimed an Olympic bronze in Paris at age 21, and now added an Asian Games gold to his resume.
His victory took India’s wrestling medal haul in Japan to new heights, cementing his status as the leader of India’s freestyle squad heading toward Los Angeles 2028.
