Vinesh Phogat vs WFI Highlights: Vinesh refuses to bow down before Brij Bhushan, Sanjay Singh; says 'He wants me to retire'

Vinesh Phogat recently revealed that she is one of the six wrestlers fighting a sexual harassment case against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The identities of the women who accused Brij Bhushan and filed the case against him had not been made public earlier, but Vinesh decided to reveal herself as one of the petitioners after the WFI chose to host the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda, Brij Bhushan’s hometown, at one of his properties. Vinesh raised concerns regarding her safety, which were brushed aside by the current WFI president Sanjay Singh, who is considered a close aide of Brij Bhushan, a former BJP MP from Gonda.

“What do you expect me to do? Shall I take sanyaas and stay away? Accept defeat? So that their conspiracy against me succeeds? He wants that I leave wrestling, I get tired, I join hands and leave. Sanjay Singh, Brij Bhushan, his team, all those who have control, who have power,” Vinesh told reporters after meeting the WFI officials.

“I have been given written permission by the ITA to compete from 1 Jan, 2026, I was allowed to register for the 2026 Senior Open Ranking Tournament at Nandini Nagar, Gonda on the 28th of April, 2026. I came to Gonda today to participate but I have neither been allowed to complete my verification, nor been allowed to use the training hall here. I don’t want any special privileges, I just want to compete on merit,” says Phogat.

Vinesh Phogat says that WFI officials were not giving her straight answers. “They were trying to be politically correct… I told them to say it directly: ‘You do not want to let me compete. You want me to get tired of all this and eventually say that I want to retire from wrestling.’ That is why they are dragging me into so many complications and disputes…”

WFI President Sanjay Singh says Vinesh cannot compete:

Vinesh shares ITA’s mail:

Vinesh reveals what transpired in the meeting with WFI:

Vinesh Phogat’s detailed reply on WFI’s allegations:

WFI had issued a 15-page show-cause notice to Vinesh on Saturday over anti-doping and disciplinary violations. The federation had also declared the 31-year-old ineligible to compete in any tournament until 26 June, citing a mandatory six-month notice period for athletes coming out of retirement under anti-doping rules.

Despite the Wrestling Federation of India terming her ineligible to compete, Vinesh Phogat has reached Gonda where the National Open Ranking Tournament is taking place.

Vinesh Phogat and the Wrestling Federation of India are at odds with each other ahead of her wrestling comeback. Will she be allowed to compete or not? Follow this space to know latest updates.