Aman Sehrawat lost 4.6 kg in just 10 hours: From hot baths to hogging, here’s how he shed weight before the Olympics bronze match

In an extraordinary display of determination and resilience, Aman Sehrawat, a 21-year-old wrestler from India, overcame a significant challenge to secure a bronze medal at the Olympics. After losing his semifinal bout, Aman faced a pressing issue: his weight had exceeded the permissible limit for his category by 4.5 kilograms. What followed was a grueling 10-hour effort to shed the excess weight and make the cut for his next match.

A Race Against Time for Aman Sehrawat

The semifinal match against Japan's Rei Higuchi concluded around 6:30 p.m., and there was no time to lose. Senior Indian coaches Jagmander Singh and Virender Dahiya immediately embarked on a mission to help Aman meet the required weight. They knew the stakes were high, especially after Vinesh Phogat's disqualification earlier in the competition due to a weight issue.

How Aman Sehrawat Reduced 4.6 kg weight: The Weight-Cutting Process

The process began with a one-and-a-half-hour mat session, where Aman engaged in standing wrestling. This was followed by a one-hour hot bath session designed to induce sweating and aid in weight loss. At 12:30 a.m., Aman moved to the gym for a non-stop one-hour run on the treadmill. This was a crucial part of the plan, as the intense sweating would help in further reducing his weight.

After a short break, Aman went through five sessions of 5-minute sauna baths. Despite the exhaustive efforts, Aman was still 900 grams over the limit. The coaches then had him undergo light jogging and additional running sessions. By 4:30 a.m., the scale finally tipped in their favor – Aman weighed in at 56.9 kilograms, just 100 grams under the limit.

A Sleepless Night

Throughout the night, Aman stayed awake, watching videos of wrestling bouts to keep his focus sharp. "We kept checking his weight every hour. We didn't sleep the whole night, not even during the day," said coach Dahiya, highlighting the tension they felt due to the earlier incident with Phogat. The weight-cutting process is a routine part of the sport, but this situation was particularly stressful given the circumstances.

Victory in Adversity

All the hard work and sleepless hours paid off when Aman Sehrawat won the bronze medal, defeating Puerto Rico's Darian Cruz. His achievement not only made him India's youngest Olympic medalist but also underscored the dedication and perseverance required to excel at the highest level of competition.