After the horrid turn of event where wrestler Vinesh Phogat was denied a medal at the Paris Olympics, the latter announced her decision of retirement on Thursday. But the WFI chief Sanjay Singh has urged Vinesh to reconsider her move. The 29-year-old was disqualified from the 50 kg competition for being 100 gm overweight.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Vinesh has already appealed in the CAS, over the decision, and the verdict is expected to be out soon. In her plea, the pugilist has asked for joint-silver medal for now, and a rematch with the initial finalist.
Speaking on the entire Antim Panghal fiasco, Sanjay Singh added, “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.” For the unversed, there were a few disciplinary charges on the athlete.
“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.
