May not be the end of the road for Vinesh Phogat: WFI

Even after rendering Vinesh Phogat ineligible to compete and serving her a show-cause notice, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has said this is not the end of the road for the two-time World Championships medallist.

WFI president Sanjay Singh said Vinesh needed to go through the procedure. “This is not the end (of the road for her). Let her reply. A WFI committee will be formed. Whatever the committee decides, it will be informed to her. Even the road may open for her,” Sanjay told Sportstar on Tuesday.

Sanjay said Vinesh, who was found ineligible to make a comeback at the Open Ranking event here on Tuesday, would not be eligible for the Asian Games trials in Delhi on May 30 as well. “In no way she can participate in the Asian Games trials. She is not eligible to compete in any WFI event.

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“Later, if she is eligible as per the criteria, then she can compete in the trials for the World Championships.”

About the timing of her ineligibility and show-cause, the WFI chief said, “Whenever an athlete approaches the federation to take part in a competition, then only the federation checks her eligibility. As for the show-cause, she took retirement immediately after (getting disqualified from) the Paris Olympics (for jumping the weight limit of 50kg). How can I serve a notice to someone who has retired?

“What about fighting in two weights (at the trials)? Now she is putting the responsibility on the ad-hoc committee (which conducted the trials). When I asked her about this, she grimaced. She is a senior athlete, she should know the rules.”

Published on May 12, 2026