Vinesh Phogat’s Asian Games Comeback Hopes Suffer Major Blow After WFI Selection Decision

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has suffered a major setback in her comeback plans after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) announced revised selection rules for the 2026 Asian Games trials, effectively ruling her out of contention. The decision comes amid an ongoing standoff between the federation and the former world championship medallist over eligibility, tournament participation, and federation policies.

Under the newly released WFI selection criteria, only medal winners from the 2025 Senior National Championships, 2026 Federation Cup, and Under 20 National Championships will be eligible for the Asian Games trials. The federation also clarified that previous international achievements and past performances will not be considered during the selection process.

The move directly impacts Vinesh Phogat, who had announced her return to competitive wrestling earlier this year after stepping away from the sport following the Paris Olympics controversy and her subsequent retirement announcement. She had been preparing for a comeback through the National Open Ranking Tournament in the 57kg category.

In recent weeks, Vinesh publicly accused the WFI of attempting to block her comeback by allegedly restricting her registration access for ranking tournaments. She also raised safety concerns over competing in Gonda, a venue she claimed remained under the influence of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Responding to the controversy, a senior WFI official told Hindustan Times, “WFI has no intention to keep Vinesh or any athlete out of trials. The circular we sent today is in accordance with our selection policy for the Asian Games. The policy was put on our website in February itself and also shared with the sports ministry.”

The development adds another chapter to the prolonged conflict between several wrestlers and the federation following the protests against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in 2023. Vinesh Phogat had recently revealed publicly that she was among the six wrestlers who filed sexual harassment complaints against Brij Bhushan.

The official WFI selection circular and policy announcement were released through federation communications shared with the Sports Ministry and participating state associations.

Sportscape feels that the latest decision reflects the continuing fracture between India’s top wrestlers and the federation administration.

With Olympic level athletes now repeatedly clashing with governance structures, Indian wrestling faces growing pressure to rebuild institutional trust alongside competitive success.