Ahmedabad, India : In a major development on Friday, December 12, 2025, Vinesh Phogat announced that she has come out of retirement and is preparing to return to competitive wrestling — a move that has been warmly welcomed by Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Here’s a concise and engaging roundup of the key points from the announcement:
WFI Welcomes Phogat Back
WFI President Sanjay Singh expressed his support for Phogat’s decision to reverse her retirement, emphasising that her return will strictly follow the rules and regulations of the federation.
> “The entire Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) welcomes Vinesh Phogat for coming out of her retirement. But her comeback will be as per the rules and regulations of the Wrestling Federation of India.” — Sanjay Singh
Singh also noted that Phogat did not apply for the recent league entry, where the deadline has already passed and over 300 athletes from around the world have applied.
Phogat’s Journey Back to the Mat
After an 18-month break from wrestling, Phogat decided to end her retirement and chase her Olympic dream once again, with her focus on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Phogat had retired last year following a controversial disqualification in the 50 kg freestyle final at the Paris Olympics, where she was ruled out for breaching the weight limit just before the gold-medal bout.
In her social media post, she reflected on her journey:
> “People kept asking if Paris was the end. For a long time, I didn’t have the answer… But somewhere in that reflection, I found the truth: I still love this sport… The fire never left.”
The Champion’s Legacy
Phogat’s career has been among the most remarkable in Indian wrestling, with multiple international medals to her name:
Two World Championships bronze medals (2019, 2022)
Asian Games gold (2018) and bronze (2014)
Three Commonwealth Games gold medals (2014, 2018, 2022)
Asian Championships gold (2021) plus other continental medals
Quick Takeaways
Comeback Confirmed: Phogat ends retirement after 18 months.
WFI Supportive: Sanjay Singh welcomes the decision under federation rules.
Olympic Focus: Eyes set on Los Angeles 2028.
Legacy Continues: One of India’s most decorated female wrestlers returns with renewed passion.
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