Vinesh Phogat was eager to start a new chapter in her wrestling career as she made a comeback in 2026. However, her comeback plans have now landed in controversy with tensions between the wrestler and the Wrestling Federation of India escalating.
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After the disappointment of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Vinesh had taken a break and reversed her decision to retire in late 2025 and began training for a competitive comeback. Her comeback event was supposed to be the National Open Ranking Series tournament in Gonda from May 10 to May 12. Instead, it has become the focus of yet another public feud.
Registration row flares up again
Vinesh Phogat said that the WFI had deliberately delayed or blocked her registration for the tournament. She said repeated attempts to contact federation officials reportedly went unanswered and that the online registration portal was closed before she could finish entering the competition.
Soon, the incident invited strong reactions from fans and the wrestling fraternity, especially considering the already strained relationship between Vinesh and the federation after last year’s wrestlers’ protests.
But the WFI officials, however, denied any targeted action against her. The federation said several wrestlers had experienced similar technical problems and that the registration deadline applied equally to all.
WFI Allows Entry but Refuses to Change Venue
Vinesh Phogat: As the controversy grew, WFI chief Sanjay Singh later confirmed Vinesh’s registration had finally been accepted and she was cleared to compete in the Ranking Series event.
But the federation declined to change the venue despite Vinesh having apparently raised concerns over what she called a “biased” atmosphere in Gonda. This refusal has only widened the gap between both sides.
