Vinesh Phogat Trials' Controversy: Indian Wrestling Continues To Reek Of Mistrust, Never-Ending Feud And Uncertain Future

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It was difficult for Vinesh Phogat to hold back her tears once she clinched a spot in the next month's Asian Olympic Qualifiers. The decorated wrestler risked competing in two weight categories (50kg and 53kg) in what was a bold move and yet she achieved her objectives in both of them.

The 29-year-old athlete once again reminded everyone of her wrestling mights as she tamed her opponents with little difficulty in both. However, not many were impressed as the rulebooks were soon out, reminding Vinesh that it was unfair of her to compete in two weight categories on the same day.

This piece, however, is not about getting into details of what Vinesh did was right or wrong but looking at the Indian wrestling mess, which continues to create one roadblock after another for their star wrestlers at the 11th hour of the preparations for the Paris Olympics.

To make things simple for the readers, the women's 53kg category is perceived as a prominent medal opportunity in Paris. The presence of Indian wrestling queen Vinesh Phogat and, now, ever-rising Antim Panghal in the 53kg are the reason why things must stay clean and fair until one of them makes it to Paris as only one spot is up for grabs.

However, last Monday Vinesh Phogat had some degree of mistrust in her towards the temporary ad-hoc committee. The two-time World Championships medallists asked for a written assurance that the she be allowed a final shot to the Olympics in her forte event against Antim, who won the Olympic quota last year.

And with Sanjay Singh, a known stooge of notorious Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, soon expected to take charge of the Wrestling Federation of India, Vinesh's unusual requests were understandable given how she has been waging a well-documented and long-standing battle against Brij Bhushan and his management for over a year now.

The newly-elected WFI body, despite their claims of non-partiality against protesting wrestlers, has done little to gain the confidence of Vinesh. It didn't take them much time to inform United World Wrestling (UWW) of the three-time Commonwealth Games champion competing in two categories, irrespective of the fact that the 53kg category was just internal trials to find a contender for quota-holding Antim.

The very fact that WFI sent their coaches and officials to the trials but did little to take Vinesh Phogat into confidence on the matter made their intentions questionable. The letter to UWW only appears to be a further attempt to distance themselves from the matter.

While the infighting is obvious and is reaching a point where things may turn uglier and no return for Indian wrestling, Sports Ministry was long expected to find a fair way to re-establish WFI, especially when the Olympics are a stone's throw away.

However, the Anurag Thakur-led ministry is likely to avoid any big decision with general elections coming up, which further shows that the greater good of Indian wrestling is on nobody's agenda, leaving it to an uncertain future.