NANDINI NAGAR (GONDA), May 12 -- Despite being barred from participating in the Open Senior National Wrestling on technical grounds at the Nandini Nagar centre - long considered the fortress of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh - Asian Games medallist Vinesh Phogat turned up at the venue and refused to stay silent. The 31-year-old wrestling icon made her presence felt in a fiery 40-minute stand-off, directly confronting WFI chief Sanjay Singh and unleashing a barrage of accusations against the federation's leadership, including former WFI president Brij Bhushan. Only last week, WFI declared Vinesh ineligible to compete until June 2026 due to anti-doping-related return protocols and pending disciplinary proceedings. But as expected, Phogat, a Congress MLA in Haryana escorted by two Haryana Police officials and her husband Somvir Rathi arrived at the venue around 4:20pm Monday, determined to compete. She went straight into the WFI office and demanded an audience with Sanjay Singh. What followed was a 10-minute discussion that echoed Phogat's long-standing tussle with WFI, which has roots in the 2023 wrestlers' protests against sexual harassment allegations levelled at then-president Brij Bhushan. Phogat stood her ground within the event campus, arguing vehemently with local officials. She even went to the National Wrestling Academy and SAI's practice venue within the campus and found both locked and unfit for training. "You think you can silence us by blocking entries? This is our sport, our right. What do you expect me to do? Shall I take sanyas (retirement) and stay away? Accept defeat... so that their conspiracy against me succeeds?" Phogat said after meeting WFI officials. Phogat didn't hold back on further accusations. She charged Sanjay Singh with favouritism, alleging the WFI was sidelining protesting wrestlers to favor loyalists. "This federation is still run by the same old puppets," she said, referencing Sanjay Singh's close ties to Brij Bhushan, whom he succeeded amid legal battles. Phogat also accused the WFI of manipulating selection criteria and event entries to suppress dissent. "I have been given written permission by the ITA to compete from Jan 1, 2026, and I was allowed to register for the 2026 Senior Open Ranking Tournament at Nandini Nagar, Gonda on the 28th of April, 2026," she said, adding, "I came to Gonda today to participate but I have neither been allowed to complete my verification, nor been allowed to use the training hall here. I don't want any special privileges, I just want to compete on merit."...