Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat, who made history by becoming the youngest-ever individual Olympic medallist from India at the recently-concluded Paris Olympic Games, fulfilled a dream by meeting Dilip Joshi, the lead actor from the popular comedy show Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasmah.
Sehrawat, who won a bronze medal in the men’s 57kg freestyle wrestling category, had expressed his admiration for the show after his victory. Just days after the conclusion of the Games, he had the opportunity to meet ‘Jethalal’ (Dilip Joshi) in person. To the delight of fans on social media, Joshi presented Sehrawat with traditional Gujarati snacks, jalebi and fafda.
“When I am not wrestling, I love to watch ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’,” Sehrawat had said after winning the bronze medal in Paris.
Sehrawat’s journey to the podium was not without its challenges. He defeated Puerto Rico’s Darian Cruz 13-5 in the bronze medal match after losing against Japanese top-seed Rei Higuchi 0-10 in the semifinal. Despite the setback, Sehrawat remained determined to make history.
“I would like to thank all the citizens of the country for their support at the Paris Olympics,” Sehrawat said. “However, I was not able to bring a gold medal to the country, but my next target is the Los Angeles Olympics. I will give my 100 percent to change the color of the medal. Next time, I will definitely bring back a gold medal.”
Sehrawat’s bronze medal is the eighth Olympic medal for India in wrestling, extending its bid as the second most successful sport for the country in the Olympics behind hockey. His performance has inspired a new generation of wrestlers and has brought pride to the nation.
