“I am also shocked to learn she decided to retire” - WFI chief Sanjay Singh urges Vinesh Phogat to reconsider retirement

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh has urged Vinesh Phogat to reconsider her decision to retire. She was found overweight by 100 grams and subsequently disqualified at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics ahead of the women’s 50 kg freestyle gold medal match on Wednesday, August 7. She announced her retirement the next day.

Speaking to the news agency PTI, Singh said:

“I got to know about her [Vinesh’s] retirement through social media and I am also shocked to learn she decided to retire on her own.”

“So I would urge her on behalf of the Wrestling Federation of India to not make decisions in a sad state of mind and make a rational decision once she has recovered from the debacle mentally. We will also talk to her,” he added.

Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from professional wrestling on Thursday, August 8, as she shared a heartfelt message on social media. The wrestler took to X and wrote:

“Wrestling won and I lost. Your dreams and my courage are shattered. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all. I am sorry.”

“There are few officials who are acting arbitrarily” - WFI chief Sanjay Singh on Antim Panghal’s disciplinary breach after Vinesh Phogat fiasco

Other than Vinesh Phogat’s elimination from the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024, the Indian wrestling contingent was also rocked by reports of a major disciplinary breach by Antim Panghal. The breach led to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) flying the wrestler and her staff back to India as a punitive measure.

Speaking on the incident, Sanjay Singh told PTI:

“It is ridiculous. The Wrestling Federation of India is not being allowed to do what we want. We create a discipline. We send the selected coaches to international events. But there are few officials who are acting arbitrarily, leading to indiscipline in wrestling.”

“We should be allowed to work on our own, if that would have been the case, there would not have been such embarrassment,” he added.

Antim Panghal’s sister was detained trying to enter the Olympic Village using the wrestler’s accreditation and as a result, Antim and her enter entourage were deported from France.

There were also reports of a three-year suspension imposed by the IOA but the latter refuted any such claims.