Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The controversy around Vinesh Phogat and her participation in the upcoming wrestling tournament has taken a new turn, with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) denying her claims.Speaking to The Indian Express, Vinesh had alleged that she was unable to register for the Senior Open Ranking Tournament, saying the portal showed registrations were closed and officials were not responding. However, WFI president Sanjay Singh rejected this, stating her entry was already done and there was no issue from their side.
The WFI chief firmly dismissed the accusations and even shared 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, and registrations are open until April 30. According to WFI, everything is running smoothly, and no other wrestler has faced problems signing up.
Comeback plans and Olympic setback
Vinesh is aiming for a comeback after a long break of nearly 20 months. She had earlier announced retirement following her heartbreaking exit from the Paris Olympics but later changed her mind. Her Olympic journey had grabbed 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, asking for a joint silver medal, but her request was rejected.Now, as she prepares to return to competition, this latest disagreement has added fresh tension ahead of the tournament.
