Vinesh Phogat To Brij Bhushan Camp: Why Gonda Is In The News For Hosting Wrestling Tournament

Last Updated:May 13, 2026, 15:27 IST

Why is India’s Senior National Ranking Wrestling Tournament being held repeatedly in Gonda? News18 explains event & Vinesh Phogat’s accusations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

The Senior National Ranking Wrestling Tournament has returned to Brij Bhushan’s political stronghold Gonda for the third time since 2022. The event has reignited questions over his continuing influence, athlete safety and the Wrestling Federation of India’s decision to repeatedly choose the venue over bigger sporting hubs like Delhi, Lucknow or Haryana.

The controversy has intensified after Olympian Vinesh Phogat released a video statement ahead of the tournament, alleging that the competition was still being controlled by Brij Bhushan and his associates.

“Who will referee, who will win, everything will be controlled by Brij Bhushan and his people," she alleged, adding that she felt unsafe competing in Gonda because she was among the wrestlers who had accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment during the nationwide wrestlers’ protest in 2023.

Why the venue is in the middle of the debate

The venue itself has become the centre of debate. Since the Senior National Ranking Tournament was introduced in 2022, all three editions have been organised in Gonda’s Nandini Nagar Sports College.

Critics have questioned why the tournament has not been held in cities such as New Delhi, where the Wrestling Federation of India headquarters and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium are located, or Lucknow, which has the KD Singh Babu Stadium and better connectivity.

The issue has become more significant because nearly 80 percent of the wrestlers participating in the tournament are from Haryana, India’s traditional wrestling powerhouse. Haryana has several international-level wrestling facilities in Rohtak, Sonipat, Hisar and Jind, leading to questions about why the competition has never been hosted there.

Despite the controversy, the tournament continues with strong participation from wrestlers across the country. Around 1,400 wrestlers are competing across multiple weight categories to improve their national rankings. Star wrestler Deepak Punia advanced to the final in the 92 kg freestyle category after dominating his semifinal bout, highlighting the importance of the event in India’s wrestling calendar.

What WFI has said

Defending the choice of venue, WFI president Sanjay Singh dismissed Vinesh’s allegations and said Gonda was selected purely on logistical grounds. According to him, the federation inspected multiple venues before finalising Nandini Nagar Sports College because it could accommodate around 1,000 wrestlers and support staff within a short preparation window.

“We checked several stadiums and reviewed facilities before deciding on Gonda. The arrangements for stay, food and training here were suitable for a tournament of this scale," Sanjay Singh said, accusing Vinesh of making repeated allegations against the federation.

What wrestlers say

Reactions from wrestlers participating in the tournament have been mixed. Punjab wrestler Karandeep Singh praised the arrangements, saying the accommodation and food facilities were satisfactory. Haryana wrestler Rohit, who secured third place in the 125 kg freestyle category, said there was no visible politics inside the competition. However, another Haryana wrestler, Ravi, said Delhi would have been a more convenient venue because of easier travel and superior infrastructure.

The Brij Bhushan influence

The tournament has also revived questions over Brij Bhushan’s continuing influence in Indian wrestling despite no longer heading the WFI. His son Karan Bhushan Singh currently heads the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association, and several major wrestling events continue to be organised in Gonda. Brij Bhushan himself recently admitted that he was keen to see more wrestling events hosted at Nandini Nagar because of his long-standing interest in the sport.

Vinesh’s remarks

The latest controversy coincides with a fresh dispute between Vinesh and the WFI over an anti-doping related show-cause notice issued to her days before the tournament. The federation alleged that Vinesh failed to make herself available for a scheduled dope test in Bengaluru on December 18, 2025.

Vinesh, however, argued that she was travelling to attend the Haryana Assembly session as Congress MLA from Julana and could not update her whereabouts because of family responsibilities and the recent birth of her child. She maintained that under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, a single missed test does not lead to suspension, since action is generally initiated only after three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period.

The Olympian also accused the federation of deliberately targeting her ahead of the tournament. “I registered for this competition on April 27. The notices were sent just two days before my matches. They want me to quit wrestling and surrender," she said while speaking in Gonda.

She further alleged that WFI president Sanjay Singh and Brij Bhushan were working together. “I have already given a short reply to the notice. Before I could submit my complete response, how can they declare me guilty?" she asked, adding that she felt unsafe participating in the tournament.

The federation, however, insisted that Vinesh’s response was incomplete and that she would not be allowed to participate until the disciplinary committee completed its hearing. Sanjay Singh said the WFI constitution permitted participation only for wrestlers complying with federation rules.

Yet, beyond the action on the mat, the Gonda tournament has once again exposed the deep divisions within Indian wrestling — between athletes and administrators, allegations and denials, and the continuing shadow of Brij Bhushan over the sport even after his exit from the federation’s top post.

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