The controversy surrounding Vinesh Phogat and her participation in the upcoming wrestling tournament has escalated, with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) firmly denying her allegations.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Vinesh claimed she was unable to register for the Senior Open Ranking Tournament, stating that the portal showed registrations were closed and officials were unresponsive. However, WFI president Sanjay Singh rejected these claims, asserting that her entry had already been processed and there was no issue from their side.
The WFI chief dismissed the accusations and even provided proof of her registration. "Vinesh Phogat's registration has already been completed. Why is she creating an unnecessary ruckus? We have not stopped any wrestler from participating; they are all most welcome. Instead of speaking to the media, she should focus on wrestling. So far, 800 wrestlers have registered, and no one has reported any issue," Singh told IANS.
The tournament is scheduled to be held from May 10 to 12 in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, with registrations open until April 30. According to WFI, everything is running smoothly, and no other wrestler has encountered problems signing up.
Comeback Plans and Olympic Setback
Vinesh is aiming for a comeback after a nearly 20-month break. She had earlier announced her retirement following a heartbreaking exit from the Paris Olympics but later changed her mind. Her Olympic journey garnered attention as she became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach a final, even defeating world champion Yui Susaki.
However, her campaign ended in disappointment after she was disqualified for being overweight before the final. She later appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, requesting a joint silver medal, but her plea was rejected.
Now, as she prepares to return to competition, this latest disagreement has added fresh tension ahead of the tournament.
