NEW DELHI: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Sanjay Singh has requested Vinesh Phogat not to make any hasty decisions about retirement after the grappler bid adieu to her international wrestling career on Thursday.
Phogat’s announcement came after her Olympic dreams were dashed due to a weight issue that led to her disqualification from the 50kg category gold medal bout in the Olympics.
Vinesh, aged 29, shared her decision to retire on social media, explaining that she no longer has the strength to continue.
This comes after she was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight, a setback that devastated her long-cherished Olympic aspirations.
“I got to know about her retirement through social media and I am also shocked to learn she decided to retire on her own,” Sanjay Singh told PTI Video.
“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.”
Vinesh has taken her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), appealing against her disqualification. She is demanding that she be awarded a joint silver medal, as she was forced out for being 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in.
In another controversy, Sanjay Singh addressed the incident involving grappler Antim Panghal, who attempted to use her accreditation card to facilitate her sister’s entry into the athletes village, causing embarrassment to the Indian Olympic contingent.
Singh expressed his frustration over the matter.
“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,” Sanjay Singh said.
Antim, who is 19 and a U20 world champion, was called by police to record her statement following the incident. She had already faced disappointment in the Olympics, crashing out after losing her opening bout in the women’s 53kg category.
“The top WFI official added, “IOA and WFI have met whatever needs were there of these 6 players, they were given the coaches, physios and dieticians they asked for. But they are acting arbitrarily. They are not respecting the chief coach of freestyle.
“There are some other coaches who are behind all these,” Sanjay Singh alleged.
The 19-year-old U20 world champion Antim was also called by police to record her statement.
If that was not enough, Antim’s personal support staff — Vikas and Bhagat — travelled in an inebriated state in a taxi and refused to pay the driver, who then called police.
Panghal and her support staff have been deported from Paris for the disciplinary breach.
Phogat’s announcement came after her Olympic dreams were dashed due to a weight issue that led to her disqualification from the 50kg category gold medal bout in the Olympics.
Vinesh, aged 29, shared her decision to retire on social media, explaining that she no longer has the strength to continue.
This comes after she was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight, a setback that devastated her long-cherished Olympic aspirations.
“I got to know about her retirement through social media and I am also shocked to learn she decided to retire on her own,” Sanjay Singh told PTI Video.
“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.”
Vinesh has taken her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), appealing against her disqualification. She is demanding that she be awarded a joint silver medal, as she was forced out for being 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in.
In another controversy, Sanjay Singh addressed the incident involving grappler Antim Panghal, who attempted to use her accreditation card to facilitate her sister’s entry into the athletes village, causing embarrassment to the Indian Olympic contingent.
Singh expressed his frustration over the matter.
“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,” Sanjay Singh said.
Antim, who is 19 and a U20 world champion, was called by police to record her statement following the incident. She had already faced disappointment in the Olympics, crashing out after losing her opening bout in the women’s 53kg category.
“The top WFI official added, “IOA and WFI have met whatever needs were there of these 6 players, they were given the coaches, physios and dieticians they asked for. But they are acting arbitrarily. They are not respecting the chief coach of freestyle.
“There are some other coaches who are behind all these,” Sanjay Singh alleged.
The 19-year-old U20 world champion Antim was also called by police to record her statement.
If that was not enough, Antim’s personal support staff — Vikas and Bhagat — travelled in an inebriated state in a taxi and refused to pay the driver, who then called police.
Panghal and her support staff have been deported from Paris for the disciplinary breach.
