Shocking! Paris Olympics medallist Aman Sehrawat disqualified from World Wrestling Championships for being overweight

NEW DELHI: Aman Sehrawat, a bronze medallist at the Paris Games and one of India's leading prospects in the men's freestyle 57kg category at the World Wrestling Championships, was disqualified on Sunday in Zagreb, Croatia, after failing to make weight ahead of his opening match.

According to sources from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Sehrawat exceeded the weight limit by 1 kg 700 g, an oversight deemed unacceptable given his status as an experienced wrestler. The federation has sought explanations from both Sehrawat and the men's freestyle head coach, Jagminder Singh, regarding the incident. “Aman is likely to face suspension upon return to India. He was a top medal contender at the Worlds.

How could he be overweight by 1 kg 700 gms...this is unacceptable. Recently, the federation had suspended Neha Sangwan for returning overweight by 700 gms at the U20 World Wrestling Championships, which led to her disqualification. Neha was banned for two years. The yardsticks are the same for everyone. Aman is also likely to face a similar ban,” a top WFI official told TOI.

Indian coaches in Zagreb informed TOI that Sehrawat fell ill the night before his weigh-in, developing a high fever, which prevented him from cutting weight.

“That’s why he couldn’t cut weight. He was not feeling well,” a coach said. Sehrawat was scheduled to compete against Vladimir Erogov of North Macedonia in the first round. “When the attention was brought to the WFI’s notice by the coaches in Zagreb, it was told to them that Aman should at least go for weigh-in, as that would mark his participation in the Worlds and he could get the certificate. Aman was initially reluctant and wanted to show himself injured and submit a medical. In that case, his participation wouldn’t have been registered in the Worlds and he would have shown absent. He was told to go for weigh-in, even if he wasn’t feeling well.

It was found that he’s 1kg, 700gms overweight. Now, in the draws list, it will be shown forfeited against his name,” the federation official added.