Vinesh Phogat’s hopes of returning to the wrestling mat for the primary time this 12 months ended prematurely after she was compelled to withdraw on the eve of her occasion in Budapest, Hungary.
Along with her bouts within the 55kg weight class scheduled for Saturday, Vinesh pulled out of the Rating Collection event late on Friday night time, citing fever and meals poisoning, The Indian Specific has learnt. The choice was conveyed to the organisers in addition to the Sports activities Authority of India on Friday.
Vinesh, who has been the face of the protests in opposition to former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, final competed on the World Championships in September 2022, the place she gained a bronze medal.
Nonetheless, for the reason that begin of the brand new 12 months, Vinesh has been unable to coach or compete with the identical depth owing to the protests. In January, she – together with fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik – launched their stir in opposition to Singh, accusing him of sexually harassing girls wrestlers.
When no motion was taken in opposition to him, the trio, together with just a few different wrestlers, resumed their protests in April, which lasted for shut to 2 months. They referred to as it off final month after Union Dwelling Minister Amit Shah and Sports activities Minister Anurag Thakur assured them of an expedited investigation.
The wrestlers then returned to coaching and left for locations outdoors India to get in form for the choice trials for the World Championships in September and the Asian Video games in October. The trials are set to be held on July 22 and 23, nonetheless, it isn’t clear but if Vinesh, Bajrang and Sakshi might be part of it.
Vinesh hoped to make use of the event in Budapest to check her health forward of the trials. Having stayed away from the mat for a significant a part of the 12 months, she determined to compete within the 55kg weight class as an alternative of the 53kg class, the place she usually takes half.
Nonetheless, it was to not be the case. Her withdrawal from the Rating Collection leaves only one Indian wrestler within the fray in Budapest – Sangeeta Phogat.
One other wrestler who had been protesting in opposition to Singh, Sangeeta will compete within the 59kg class and can open her marketing campaign in opposition to USA’s Jennifer Web page Rogers.
Different Indian wrestlers have stayed away from the event as they’re getting ready for the all-important Asian Video games trials, which might be held subsequent weekend.