The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has rejected Vinesh Phogat’s request to compete in three upcoming international wrestling tournaments, dealing another setback to the former world championship medallist’s comeback plans. The federation cited her ongoing suspension and an unsatisfactory response to a show-cause notice as the primary reasons for denying her entries.
The decision affects Vinesh’s proposed participation in the Grand Prix of Spain, the Polyak Imre, Varga Janos and Kozma Istvan Memorial Ranking Series in Budapest, and the Poland Open in Warsaw. The rejection comes after the wrestler failed to secure qualification for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Why Did WFI Reject Vinesh Phogat’s Entries?
According to the Wrestling Federation of India, Vinesh Phogat remains ineligible to compete internationally due to ongoing disciplinary proceedings.
The federation stated that her suspension continues to remain in force while the matter is under review and pending a court hearing. Officials also said her reply to the show-cause notice issued earlier was found to be unsatisfactory, leading to the decision to reject her requests for international entries.
Which Tournaments Was Vinesh Phogat Seeking to Enter?
As part of her planned return to competitive wrestling, Vinesh had requested entries for three international competitions:
- Grand Prix of Spain
- Polyak Imre, Varga Janos and Kozma Istvan Memorial Ranking Series in Budapest, Hungary
- Poland Open in Warsaw
These tournaments were expected to help her regain competitive momentum following her unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the upcoming Asian Games.
WFI Explains Tournament Selection Decisions
WFI sources said India is not sending teams to the tournaments in Spain and Poland, making participation impossible regardless of individual requests.
For the Budapest Ranking Series, officials explained that entries had already been finalized before Vinesh completed her period of ineligibility on June 26. The final date for submitting entries to the Hungarian tournament had been June 15, well before she became eligible to seek selection.
Selection Criteria Worked Against Vinesh
Federation officials also highlighted several additional reasons behind the decision.
According to WFI sources:
- Vinesh is not currently part of the national coaching camp.
- She has not participated in recent domestic wrestling competitions.
- She does not hold a current national ranking.
The federation further stated that selection for the Hungary event was limited to Asian Games-bound wrestlers and the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked wrestlers in each men’s and women’s weight category.
India had already filled its available quota in the 53kg weight category, the division in which Vinesh Phogat usually competes.
What the Decision Means for Vinesh Phogat
The rejection represents another obstacle in Vinesh Phogat’s efforts to return to international competition.
With three potential tournaments now unavailable, the experienced wrestler may have to wait for future selection opportunities after the disciplinary process concludes and she meets the federation’s eligibility and selection requirements.
The WFI has not indicated whether it will reconsider her participation in upcoming international events until the ongoing proceedings are resolved.
Key Takeaways
- WFI rejected Vinesh Phogat’s entries for three international tournaments.
- The federation cited her suspension and pending disciplinary proceedings.
- India is not sending teams to the Spain and Poland competitions.
- Entries for the Budapest Ranking Series had already been finalized before her eligibility period ended.
- Vinesh is currently not part of the national camp and does not hold a national ranking.