Some of the most prominent wrestlers of India including the likes of Olympians Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, had protested against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ruling party Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Minister of Parliament (MP) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for more than a month.
Following more than a month-long protest, the Delhi Police finally charged the outgoing WFI chief, on June 15, of sexual harassment and stalking.
Even as the wrestlers are contemplating their next move, Phogat is all set to return to the mat in order to gain some crucial ranking points ahead of the upcoming World Wrestling Championships in September.
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Vinesh Phogat to return to the wrestling mat
Phogat will make her return at the Fourth Ranking Series event scheduled to be held in Budapest from July 13 to July 16. The wrestler had last competed the Birmingham Commonwealth Games (CWG), which took place in July-August of 2022.
She will be the only wrestler to represent India at the event, with other wrestlers from both women's and men's categories taking part in trials and training for the upcoming Asian Games to be held in September as well.
In fact, the Indian Olympic Association was looking to send no Indian wrestlers to the Fourth Ranking Series event, however, Phogat put in a request to compete at the event.
Since it was Phogat, a reigning CWG and Asian Games champion who sent the proposal herself, the committee decided to forward her name to the organisers. As the wrestler won a medal at last year's World Wrestling Championships she is eligible for direct entry into this year's competition.