Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The ongoing dispute between wrestler Vinesh Phogat and the Wrestling Federation of India has taken a sharper turn after former federation president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh weighed in on the controversy surrounding her attempted return to competitive wrestling.
Speaking on Tuesday, Brij Bhushan responded to Vinesh’s allegations that she was being prevented from participating in women’s freestyle wrestling events by the federation. While clarifying that he is no longer involved in the federation’s administration, he suggested that the WFI would not stop any athlete from competing without a valid reason.
He stated that decisions regarding tournaments, participation and athlete eligibility are now entirely under the authority of the current WFI administration. However, drawing from his long tenure as federation chief, he maintained that the organisation traditionally worked in the interest of wrestlers and any restriction imposed on an athlete would likely have been supported by specific reasons and proper communication.
The controversy comes amid Vinesh Phogat’s attempt to return to wrestling competition after a turbulent period in her career. Her journey faced a major setback during the 2024 Paris Olympics when she was disqualified from the women’s 50 kg gold medal bout for being marginally overweight. The incident led to an emotional retirement announcement before she later entered politics and won the Julana constituency election in Haryana.
Now seeking a comeback at the age of 31, Vinesh has found herself in direct conflict with the federation. The WFI recently barred her from competing until June 26 and declared her ineligible for the National Open Ranking Tournament held in Gonda from May 10 to 12.
The federation has also issued a detailed show cause notice accusing her of indiscipline, anti doping related violations and actions that allegedly damaged the image of Indian wrestling following the Paris Olympics episode.
A key issue in the dispute is a federation regulation that requires wrestlers to complete a six month notice period before making a return from retirement. Despite the restriction, Vinesh still arrived at the tournament venue, signalling her determination to challenge the federation’s decision.
The latest developments may also impact her chances of competing in the upcoming Asian Games selection trials scheduled for May 30, further intensifying the standoff between one of India’s most prominent wrestlers and the national federation.
