GONDA: In swelteringly hot and oppressive Gonda, hundreds of athletes wait endlessly for their competition at the Nandininagar Mahavidyalaya where wrestling mats have replaced school desks. In the meantime, one name has dominated every conversation. Vinesh Phogat.The Kathawatch Central Hall of the University Complex in Nawabganj has been transformed into a large wrestling arena for the Senior Open Ranking Series tournament. Although the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) never officially announced it, TOI has learned that the event effectively became a qualification pathway for the national camp and, ultimately, the selection trials for the Senior World Championships in Manama, Bahrain later this year.
For Vinesh, competing in Gonda was more than just a comeback. Reversing her decision to retire after the birth of her first child, this was her return to elite wrestling. Instead, the three-time Olympian once again found himself at the center of bitterness with the federation.As the matches ran several hours behind schedule amid repeated power cuts in extreme humidity, women wrestlers from across the country waited inside the competition hall as the debate over Vinesh’s ouster intensified. Shoor also turned a glance outward.The sprawling Mahavidyalaya campus near Ayodhya is a reminder of the man whose shadow still looms over the Indian boat. Although the former head of the WFI Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Absent from the venue, he was reportedly in constant touch with federation officials as he appeared in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court on Tuesday in a sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers, including Vinesh.Against this background, the debate over Vinesh’s return to the competition arena has been raging. Some saw his exit as an unfair treatment of one of the country’s best players and a wrong message for women. Others insisted that the federation was merely enforcing the laws equally.Among the strongest voices supporting Vinesh was a fellow Olympian. Sakshi Malikwho stood by him during the wrestlers’ protest movement at Jantar Mantar in 2023. The Rio Olympics bronze medalist said Vinesh’s return to motherhood should have been celebrated rather than hampered. In a social media post, Sakshi publicly appealed to the Prime Minister to intervene.“I can give many examples where sports federations in other countries simplify the rules for their players,” Sakshi said in a video shared on social media. “Our federation enforces such rules a few days in advance so that Vinesh cannot stage a comeback. We should set an example that women can come back after maternity and still win medals for the country.Sangeeta Chikara, who was expected to face Vinesh in the 57kg category, admitted that she was looking forward to the bout. “I have wrestled Vinesh twice and he beat me both times. He is a legend of Indian wrestling,” said Sangeeta, adding, “I learned a lot competing against him.”The Haryana wrestler, a gold medalist at the World Police Games and currently posted as head constable in Meerut, said she was disappointed that the encounter never materialised. “If we wrestled here, it would have been a great competition,” he said, adding that Delhi wrestler Shruti, 20, a Junior World Championship bronze medalist in the 50kg category, also backed Vinesh’s comeback. “She is making a comeback as a mother and deserves every opportunity,” said Shruti.Having grown up idolizing Vinesh, Shruti felt that the federation should have shown more sensitivity towards one of India’s most successful wrestlers. “She has done a lot for the nation. She deserves at least that much respect,” he added.Not all wrestlers have agreed yet. Pooja, a wrestler from Balali village in Haryana, revealed that she once trained with Geetha, Babita and Vinesh at Mahavir Phogat’s arena and even called Vinesh “bua” (mother-in-law). But he insisted that personal ties cannot override rules and regulations. “I think the rules should be the same for everybody,” he said. “I heard that she did not meet the six-month withdrawal requirement for the competition and also failed the accommodation criteria.“According to Pooja, wrestlers returning from retirement need to give six months’ notice and be available for testing. Another established wrestler from Haryana, Neshu (53kg) also opposed Vinesh’s participation. “The Federation did the right thing in stopping him for now.”
