Vinesh Phogat’s comeback bid stalled, withdraws from Ranking Series event due to illness

Vinesh Phogat’s hopes of returning to the wrestling mat for the first time this year ended prematurely after she was forced to withdraw on the eve of her event in Budapest, Hungary.
With her bouts in the 55kg weight class scheduled for Saturday, Vinesh pulled out of the Ranking Series tournament late on Friday night, citing fever and food poisoning, The Indian Express has learnt. The decision was conveyed to the organisers as well as the Sports Authority of India on Friday.
Vinesh, who has been the face of the protests against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, last competed at the World Championships in September 2022, where she won a bronze medal.
However, since the start of the new year, Vinesh has been unable to train or compete with the same intensity owing to the protests. In January, she – along with fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik – launched their stir against Singh, accusing him of sexually harassing women wrestlers.
When no action was taken against him, the trio, along with a few other wrestlers, resumed their protests in April, which lasted for close to two months. They called it off last month after Union Home Miner Amit Shah and Sports Miner Anurag Thakur assured them of an expedited investigation.
The wrestlers then returned to training and left for destinations outside India to get in shape for the selection trials for the World Championships in September and the Asian Games in October. The trials are set to be held on July 22 and 23, however, it isn’t clear yet if Vinesh, Bajrang and Sakshi will be a part of it.
Vinesh was hoping to use the tournament in Budapest to test her fitness ahead of the trials. Having stayed away from the mat for a major part of the year, she decided to compete in the 55kg weight category instead of the 53kg class, where she normally takes part.
However, it was not to be the case. Her withdrawal from the Ranking Series leaves just one Indian wrestler in the fray in Budapest – Sangeeta Phogat.
Another wrestler who had been protesting against Singh, Sangeeta will compete in the 59kg category and will open her campaign against USA’s Jennifer Page Rogers.
Other Indian wrestlers have stayed away from the tournament as they are preparing for the all-important Asian Games trials, which will be held next weekend.