Chennai
Two-time World Championships bronze medallist Vinesh Phogat has sparked fresh attention in the wrestling circuit after confirming her entry for the upcoming Senior Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda, marking her return to competition after a 20-month absence.
The 31-year-old from Haryana, who was disqualified from the 50kg final at the 2024 Paris Olympics for being overweight, will now compete in the 57kg category at the event scheduled from May 10 to 12 at Nandini Nagar in Uttar Pradesh.
However, her registration process triggered confusion after Vinesh initially claimed she was unable to complete the online entry on Monday due to a technical issue, later stating that she successfully registered on Tuesday morning.
“I could not complete the registration yesterday as the link was closed. My registration to participate in the upcoming ranking tournament was done this morning,” Vinesh posted on X, adding that she is looking forward to her comeback bout.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) countered her claim, stating that the registration deadline remains April 30 and suggesting that a technical glitch may have occurred during the process. The federation further asserted that her registration was completed at 10:29 pm on Monday, contradicting her timeline.
WFI president Sanjay Kumar Singh urged the wrestler to focus on preparation rather than controversy, insisting the federation does not block any athlete from participation.
“If she was facing an issue, she could have visited the WFI office or sent someone. Her registration was completed on Monday itself,” he said.
The ranking tournament will begin with men’s freestyle bouts, followed by women’s competition and conclude with Greco-Roman events. Vinesh’s return is expected to significantly raise the profile of the women’s category.
The event also carries added significance as it is being held in Gonda, the hometown of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, against whom Vinesh and fellow wrestlers had staged protests alleging sexual harassment, a case that remains under judicial consideration.
Vinesh, who had briefly retired after her Olympic heartbreak before returning to the sport and later entering politics by winning a Haryana Assembly seat on a Congress ticket, now returns to competitive wrestling with renewed attention on her comeback.