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Vinesh vows to come back, says she will keep preparing, but does not specify where she will compete next.
Vinesh Phogat reacts after defeat in selection trials. (Picture Credit: PTI)
Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the semifinal of 53kg selection trails for the Asian Games 2026. She was knocked out by Meenakshi Goyat 4-6 in a tense semifinal bout on Saturday evening.
The loss dashed Vinesh’s hopes of a comeback and her chances of securing a berth at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan later this year.
After going down against Meenakshi, before leaving the mat Vinesh stated that she will come back.
“I’ll be back, I’ll be back on this mat (I will return),” Vinesh said.
Phogat asserted that she has “not failed” after exiting the selection trials and vows to come back stronger.
#WATCH | Delhi Wrestler Vinesh Phogat said, “The whole system was on one side and I and my team were sitting on one side… Everyone is together and it is a one-sided fight… I have no problem with winning or losing. This is not the first time that I am losing and we learn only by losing but when the whole system stands against you… https://t.co/e8rO0rS3qz pic.twitter.com/ZRIPk5up2B— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) May 30, 2026
“I have not failed. I was fighting a whole system, I was on one side and everyone else on the other,” Vinesh added, referring to her longstanding battle with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
“I had to fight for every point, I was not given a fair deal.”
VIDEO | Delhi: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat speaks to PTI and alleges bias and cheating in the Asian Games selection trials after losing in the semifinal, and vows to come back stronger.She says, “I am very grateful to the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court for granting… pic.twitter.com/unGQIIIw0L
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 30, 2026
Vinesh also vowed to come back, saying she will keep preparing, but did not specify where she would compete next.
Vinesh was allowed to compete in the women’s 53kg category after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) reversed its earlier stand of restricting her participation to the 50kg division.
The dramatic turn of events came during the official weigh-in on Saturday morning when Vinesh was informed that she would be permitted to compete only in the 50kg category, citing her participation in that weight class in her last four international events, including the Paris Olympics.
The wrestler strongly objected to the decision and accused the federation of discriminating against her by denying her the opportunity to compete in a category of her choice.
Sources present at the venue said the matter escalated before WFI president Sanjay Singh intervened and decided to allow Vinesh to enter the 53kg trials as well.
“We allowed her after she threw accusations and asked the officials to take her weight,” WFI President Sanjay Singh told PTI.
“We do not want to discriminate against anyone. She did not inform us of which category she wants to compete and still letting her.”
Vinesh subsequently weighed in at 53.9kg and was accommodated in the 53kg draw.
(With inputs from PTI)
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