Asian Wrestling Championships 2023: Aman Sehrawat wins gold, Deepak Mirka bags bronze

The Indian contingent will head into the final day of the tournament.

U-23 World Champion Aman Sehrawat defeats Kyrgyzstan's Almaz Smanbekov 9-4 in the final of 57 kg to win the gold medal at Asian Wrestling Championships 2023. This is the fourth successive edition in which an Indian wrestler has won a gold medal in 57 kg at the continental championships (previous three editions Ravi Kumar Dahiya).

Aman started off the proceedings by beating Rikuto Arai of Japan (7-1) and then the Chinese wrestler Wanhao Zou in the semifinals. In the finals, Aman started the attack and was awarded the first point due to the passivity of Smanbekov. The Indian got injured in the final 40 seconds but put up a good defensive show to emerge as the winner. India now has a good depth in the 57kg freestyle (Tokyo Olympics silver medallists Ravi Dahiya and Aman) but only one of them will make it to the Asian Games 2022.

Aman Sehrawat’s performance at Asian Wrestling Championships 2023

1. Quarterfinals - beats Rikuto Arai (7-1) by VP01

2. Semifinals - beats Wanhao Zou (7-4) by VP01

3. Final - beats Almaz Smanbekov (9-4) 

Deepak Mirka won the bronze medal in the 79 kg category by defeating Bozorov of Tajikistan (12-1). Deepak got the better of Mongolian Bat Erdene (4-1) in the opening round (quarterfinals) but lost to Bekzod Abdurkhmonov of Uzbekistan in the semifinals (0-10) by VSU. The Indian wrestler came back stronger in the bronze medal playoff match beating Bozorov comfortably.

Deepak lost a close battle to Makhshud Veysalov (9-12) in the bronze medal playoffs match in the 97 kg category. Deepak won the opening encounter beating Arslanbek Turdubekov of Kyrgyzstan (8-2). The Indian wrestler lost in the quarterfinals to Awusayiman Habila from China (2-5). Deepak got a chance to compete in the bronze medal playoff match and put up a great fight losing to Veysalov.