Vinesh Phogat named in entry list for next month's Budapest Ranking Series

This would mark the two-time World Championships medallists' return to action after 10 months.

Two-time World Championships bronze medallist, Vinesh Phogat, could become the first among the protesting wrestlers to return into competitive wrestling action as she has been listed in next month's Polyak Imre and Varga Janos Memorial Ranking Series in Budapest, which will mark her return to action after 10 months. Vinesh was last in action at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 where she won gold.

The Budapest Ranking Series, which is the fourth and final ranking series of the year, will be held from July 13 to 16. Vinesh is the only Indian to be listed in the competiton's entry list. The 2018 Asian Games gold medallist has been named in the 53kg category of women's wrestling.

Along with Olympics medal winners Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, Phogat had been leading the sit-in by the wrestlers and their protest against the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleging sexual harassment against female wrestlers. 

The protest by the wrestlers reached its boiling point on May 28 when they were detained by the security forces after inaction by the oversight committee. Due to the protests that started in January 2023, Vinesh Phogat failed to participate in three ranking series events in Zagreb (February), Alexandria (February) and Bishkek (June). Furthermore, she was also unable to participate in the Asian Wrestling Championships that took place in April.

Back in Action

If she participates, Vinesh Phogat is likely to be the only Indian at the Budapest Ranking Series as other wrestlers aim to prepare for the Asian Games selection trials. She got the nod to participate in Budapest after writing a letter to the Sports Ministry. Both the Sports Ministry and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) gave her permission to participate and represent the country at the final ranking series event of the year.

Bhupender Singh Bajwa, head of the ad hoc committee that gave her the permission said, “Last week, Vinesh requested us to go to the Budapest event as she wants to gradually return to competitions. We were always in agreement and so we requested UWW (United World Wrestling) to extend the deadline for sending entries by a week. The deadline was then pushed to June 20. We cleared her name today.”

Vinesh Phogat will be joined by her coach Sudesh and physio Ashwini Patil, upon her request. They will accompany the 28-year-old to Budapest to give her the support she needs.