'PRIDE OF THE COUNTRY!': Manu Bhaker, PM Narendra Modi hail Aman Sehrawat for winning Paris Olympics bronze

Young Aman Sehrawat ended the Indian wrestling team’s anxious wait for a first Olympic medal at the Paris Olympics by winning bronze in the men’s 57kg event on Friday.

Paris Olympics: News, schedule, medals tally and more

Sehrawat defeated Puerto Rico’s Darian Tor Cruz 13-5 in the bronze medal playoff on Friday to maintain India’s streak of winning at least one medal at the Olympics since Beijing 2008. Vinesh Phogat had earlier confirmed at least silver in the women’s 50kg event before getting disqualified for being overweight by just 100 grams in her second weigh-in.

With bronze on Olympic debut, Sehrawat became the youngest Indian to medal at the world’s biggest multi-sporting event at 21 years and 24 days of age. The record had previously belonged to shuttler PV Sindhu, who had won badminton women’s singles silver in the 2016 Games in Rio de Janiero at the age of 21 years and 4 months.

Read | Wrestler Aman Sehrawat dedicates bronze to ‘mom, dad, and to the whole nation’

Sehrawat’s victory led to an outpouring of celebratory posts on social media, his bronze bringing back joy among Indians on microblogging platform X, joy that had disappeared after the heartbreaking news of Vinesh’s disqualification.

Here are select reactions to Sehrawat’s bronze:

More pride thanks to our wrestlers!

Congratulations to Aman Sehrawat for winning the Bronze Medal in the Men's Freestyle 57 kg at the Paris Olympics. His dedication and perseverance are clearly evident. The entire nation celebrates this remarkable feat.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 9, 2024

Heartiest congratulations to Aman Sehrawat on winning the bronze medal in the men’s freestyle wrestling event at the Paris Olympic Games. One of the youngest male wrestler in the Games, he has won a medal in his very first Olympics. He has a promising career ahead and he will win…

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 9, 2024

PRIDE OF THE COUNTRY!

Congratulations Aman Sehrawat on clinching Bronze at the Paris Olympics. Your hard work and dedication paid off... This is just the beginning of a very bright future for you 💪🥉#Cheer4Bharat #TeamIndia #wrestling #Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/u7uucmSIEW

— Manu Bhaker🇮🇳 (@realmanubhaker) August 9, 2024

Congratulations Aman ! Your determination on the mat, your focus, and the way you carry yourself with humility and grace—these are the qualities that make a true champion. Securing bronze in Paris is a huge achievement, but more than that, it’s a reflection of your relentless…

— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) August 9, 2024

21 years 0 month 24 days - Aman Sehrawat is the youngest ever individual Olympic medal winner for India at the Olympics. #olympics #Paris2024 #wrestling pic.twitter.com/p1GbHbi6mt

— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) August 9, 2024

Congratulations to Aman Sehrawat for clinching the Bronze at the #Paris2024 Olympics! you have made history as India’s youngest Olympic medalist at just 21. Your resilience and determination have added another medal to our tally and filled the nation with pride. Keep shining,… pic.twitter.com/PqMb3uzXdB

— Ishant Sharma (@ImIshant) August 9, 2024

Aman Sehrawat’s parents died when he was 11. He and his sister were raised by their grandfather. The stories behind our sporting heroes must be told in all their painful, amazing layers. Kudos, Aman. Medal in your first Olympic outing. No applause enough. 🙌🏽♥️ pic.twitter.com/nhUT41V1eK

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) August 9, 2024

Aman Sehrawat dedicates his medal to his parents. Might sound like a usual thing to say.

Heartbreaking fact, he lost his parents when he was 11. Nobody knows the hardships you have faced, until you win.

— Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) August 9, 2024