Renowned wrestler Vinesh Phogat has gone public with her dismay at the Haryana Wrestling Association’s ‘unjust’ guidelines for Federation Cup 2026 trials. Taking to X, she rallied against rules that she says cheat diligent athletes out of their shot at glory.
Exclusivity to 2025 state senior medalists and global event participants leaves 2024 national podium finishers sidelined. ‘Have 2024 medalists lost their edge overnight? Is sub-junior success meaningless now?’ Phogat probed. She decried the fate of those missing 2025 Nationals due to age and recovering from injuries.
With high-stakes events like the World Championships looming, Phogat argued these policies crush dreams and national hopes. ‘This is playing foul with lives built on sweat and sacrifice,’ she noted. Insisting on open state trials, she stressed: ‘Let the mat decide—exclude no one arbitrarily.’
Phogat implored CM Nayab Singh Saini for redress, framing it as a fight for wrestling’s soul in Haryana. The backlash signals deeper unrest, pushing for selections that reward grit over red tape.