Vinesh Phogat fires fresh warning shot at Wrestling Federation of India with cryptic post

Vinesh Phogat has signalled that she is prepared to continue her battle against.

The Wrestling Federation of India after the federation blocked her proposed return to competitive wrestling ahead of the National Open Ranking tournament in Gonda.

In a cryptic message posted on X on Saturday, May 9, the star wrestler hinted that she would not bow down despite mounting pressure and controversy surrounding her comeback bid.

“Life is trapped in a deep whirlpool. The world continues to search for flaws in my character. But life has always taught me to keep my head high. No sword has the power to make it bow,” Vinesh wrote in Hindi.

The post came days after the WFI, headed by Sanjay Singh, ruled her ineligible for the tournament, citing alleged violations of anti-doping return procedures. According to the federation, Vinesh did not fulfil the mandatory six-month notice period required under United World Wrestling anti-doping regulations for athletes seeking to return after retirement.

The decision has delayed the comeback plans of the two-time World Championships medallist, who had identified the National Open Ranking event as her return tournament after stepping away from wrestling in 2024.

Vinesh had announced her retirement in the aftermath of her heartbreaking disqualification before the gold medal bout at the Paris Olympics 2024, a moment that triggered widespread debate and emotional reactions across the country.

In a detailed notice issued earlier this week, the WFI accused Vinesh of conduct that allegedly harmed the image of Indian wrestling during the Paris Olympics. The federation also claimed that she had violated provisions of the WFI Constitution, international wrestling regulations and anti-doping norms.

The dispute between both sides has intensified sharply over the past few days. Vinesh accused the federation of deliberately attempting to prevent her return to the mat and reiterated that she remains one of the six wrestlers who had accused former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment.

The WFI, however, maintained that anti-doping rules laid down by the World Anti-Doping Agency could not be ignored and stressed that the responsibility of proving eligibility rested entirely with Vinesh.

“We have to see if WADA rules have been followed properly. It has not yet been proved that she has fulfilled the requirements for coming back from retirement. She has to complete the mandatory six-month notice period before she becomes eligible to compete again,” Sanjay Singh told PTI.

Earlier this month, Vinesh had also alleged in a video statement that she was forced to publicly reveal her identity despite legal safeguards protecting complainants in sexual harassment cases. She further claimed that attempts were being made to derail her preparations for the 2026 Asian Games and confirmed that she continues to be one of the complainants in the ongoing criminal case against Brij Bhushan, where witness testimonies are still being recorded.