'Mai Wapas Aaungi': Vinesh Phogat Vows Of 'Comeback' After Losing Asian Games Trials, Says 'WFI Wants Me To Die'
Before stepping off the mat, wrestler Vinesh Phogat defiantly declared to officials, "Mai wapas aaungi" (I will be back)."
- SportFit
- 3 min read
New Delhi: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Saturday failed to quality for the 2026 Asian Games as she suffered a 4-6 loss to Meenakshi Goyat in the women's 53-kg semifinals at the selection trials held in New Delhi. Before stepping off the mat, the Olympian defiantly declared to officials, "Mai wapas aaungi (I will be back)."
A video showed Phogat stomping off the mat, before returning. She pointed to herself and then pointed to where the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) officials and former federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh were sitting, and declared that she would be back.
The 31-year-old later claimed that WFI officials were cheering when she lost.
‘She Will Return Again’
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda shared a video of Phogat promising to make a comeback on the wrestling mat after the disheartening defeat.
In a post on X, Hooda congratulated Phogat for participating in the trials after “staying away from competitions for two years, becoming a mother a while ago, and fighting with WFI.”
He added, “You fought with courage on the mat, and off the mat as well. Perhaps above any outcome, this courage of yours will always be remembered. Write it down, Vinesh will return again.”
‘WFI Wants Me To Die’
Vinesh Phogat attacked the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) after her loss, saying the federation wants her to “die quickly”. Expressing her defiant resolution to make a comeback, Phogat said, “I'll make a comeback…I'll silence every doubter with my performance.”
Meanwhile, WFI President Sanjay SIngh said, "The trials were very clean. For that, I want to congratulate all the referees, the officials, and the media friends. Everyone deserves credit for a fair selection that happened under everyone's watch. Congratulations to the children who won. And to those who lost, they should keep working hard and come back with better preparation."
Earlier this month, Phogat had alleged that there was a coordinated attempt by the WFI to sabotage her comeback ahead of Asian Games 2026. She had also revealed that she is among the victims who were allegedly sexually harassed by former WFI chief and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Published By : Nidhi Sinha
Published On: 30 May 2026 at 20:08 IST