Vinesh Phogat’s turbulent journey towards the Asian Games took yet another chaotic turn on Saturday, as a high-stakes quarterfinal bout erupted into a major feud involving coaches, federation officials, and broken technology at the Indira Gandhi International Stadium.
Competing in the 53kg category, Phogat reached the semifinals of the qualification trial, but not before her quarterfinal against Haryana’s Nishu quickly devolved from a tense wrestling match into a dramatic battle over refereeing decisions.
The controversy began when Vinesh was trailing 0-5. Going for a crucial pinfall, she looked poised to end the match. However, the referee intervened, halting the action to award Vinesh 4 points instead of allowing her to complete the pin.
The decision immediately triggered outrage from Vinesh’s corner. The first heated exchange of the day occurred when Vinesh’s husband, Somvir Rathee, stepped directly into the field of play to protest the officiating. He initiated the stoppage in play by throwing a water bottle on the mat. Following intense shouting and appeals, Vinesh officially challenged the decision—and won.
Just a minute later, the fire was stoked again. Vinesh executed an arm throw, which the referee countered by awarding her 2 points instead of the 4 her camp believed she deserved. Vinesh challenged the call a second time, but this time she lost.
The dispute quickly shifted from the mat to the jury table. Vinesh and her coaches demanded to see the video footage used to review the call. While the referee initially promised to show them the replay, they never did.
Compounding the confusion, the official review television screen stopped working entirely during the review. As Vinesh’s camp loudly voiced their frustration over the technical blackout, the disagreement escalated beyond the coaches.
WFI President Sanjay Singh, along with members of his entourage, entered a heated verbal altercation with Vinesh’s support staff, bringing the trial to a temporary standstill.
A Heartbreaking Finish
Despite the escalating chaos around her, Vinesh managed to maintain her composure. She controlled the closing seconds of the match, executing a late surge to edge past Nishu with a razor-thin 7-6 victory, booking her spot in the semifinals.
For Nishu, the result was devastating. The young wrestler burst into tears at the whistle, visibly heartbroken and convinced that the final sequence should have been scored in her favor. In a stark display of protest, Nishu refused to shake the referee’s hand. Recognizing her opponent’s agony, Vinesh offered a consoling tap on Nishu’s back before walking off the mat.
While Vinesh moves one step closer to the Asian Games, the dramatic afternoon served as a stark reminder of the ongoing friction within Indian wrestling, where administrative mess and officiating disputes continue to overshadow the athletes themselves.
– Ends
