Vinesh Phogat (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has alleged that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is “deliberately” trying to block her comeback as she attempts to return to competitive wrestling after nearly 20 months.Vinesh, who quit the sport after her heartbreak at the Paris 2024 Olympics, was preparing to make a comeback next month at the National Open Ranking tournament, an important event for selection for the Asian Games.However, she claimed she was unable to register despite the official deadline being April 30. According to her, the registration portal was showing records as closed and repeated attempts to contact WFI officials remained unanswered.“I hope to come back for the National Open Ranking Tournament. Registration for it was open till April 30. But when I tried to register, the portal says it is now closed. I tried to contact the administrative staff of the federation but they did not respond to my calls,” Vinesh told The Indian Express.The tournament, which is scheduled for May 10-12 in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, has added importance as it offers wrestlers a final avenue to stay in contention for the Asian Games and World Championships selection trials.Vinesh believes that being knocked out at this stage could seriously affect her chances of getting back to the top level.“I wanted to compete there as well, but the selection criteria for the teams changed at the last minute, so I couldn’t participate,” she said, referring to the Federation Cup.“I feel that this is a deliberate attempt to stop me from competing, especially as it is an important tournament that we have to bid for in the Asian Games and World Cup selection process.Vinesh, who reached the finals in Paris before being disqualified for missing weight, announced her return to wrestling last December.
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