NEW DELHI: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has alleged that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is “deliberately” trying to block her comeback as she attempts to return to competitive wrestling after nearly 20 months.Vinesh, who stepped away from the sport following her heartbreak at the Paris Olympics 2024, has been preparing for a return through next month’s National Open Ranking tournament, an important event for selection to the Asian Games. However, she claimed she has been unable to register despite the official deadline being April 30. According to her, the registration portal showed entries as closed, and repeated attempts to contact WFI officials went unanswered.“I am hoping to make a comeback at the National Open Ranking Tournament. The registration for it was open till April 30. However, when I tried to register, the portal says it is now closed. I have been trying to contact the administrative staff of the federation, but they haven’t responded to my calls,” Vinesh told The Indian Express.The tournament, scheduled from May 10 to 12 in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, holds added importance as it offers wrestlers a final pathway to remain in contention for the Asian Games and World Championship selection trials. Vinesh believes being shut out at this stage could severely impact her chances of making it back to the top level.“I intended to compete there, too, but the team selection criteria were changed at the last minute, so I couldn’t take part,” she said, referring to the Federation Cup. “It feels like this is a deliberate attempt to stop me from competing, especially since this is an important tournament to remain in contention for the Asian Games and World Championship selection trials.”Vinesh, who had reached the final in Paris before being disqualified for missing weight, had announced her return to wrestling last December. With the Asian Games scheduled in September and the World Championships in October, her focus now remains on finding a way back onto the mat despite the ongoing hurdles.The WFI, however, has denied any wrongdoing. Federation president Sanjay Singh said that there was no attempt to stop any athlete from participating and that similar complaints from other wrestlers had been resolved once they contacted officials.“We received similar complaints from other wrestlers, too. They got in touch with our staff, and their issues were resolved. We are not going to stop anybody from competing, and the tournament remains open for everyone,” he added.
