Supreme Court allows Vinesh Phogat to compete in Delhi trials on May 30–31, granting relief after WFI's petition — primary keyword: Vinesh Phogat

The Supreme Court on Thursday cleared an immediate path for Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat to take part in the Asian Games selection trials scheduled in Delhi on May 30–31, rejecting a last-minute petition by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) that sought to block her participation.

Bench decision, timeline
A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe dismissed WFI’s petition against a Delhi High Court order that had allowed Phogat to compete. The High Court’s direction, issued on May 22, required that the entire trial be video recorded and supervised by independent observers appointed by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

WFI had approached the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court granted interim relief to Vinesh. The federation argued Phogat’s participation violated its rules on athletes returning from retirement, but the apex court refused to stay the high court order, effectively permitting her to enter the trials.

High-stakes selection
The Delhi trials on Saturday and Sunday will form the basis for final team selection for the Asian Games in Japan in September. Officials said selectors will evaluate performance across the two days and forward names to the IOA. With the Supreme Court’s clearance, Phogat is now eligible to contest in the 50kg category trials, according to sources familiar with the matter.

WFI's stance
WFI had earlier disqualified Phogat from domestic competitions until June 26, 2026, citing anti-doping provisions and the federation’s rule that athletes returning from retirement must give six months’ notice. The federation also issued a show-cause notice accusing Phogat of indiscipline and conduct that, it said, harmed the image of Indian wrestling.

In its petition to the Supreme Court, WFI argued the Delhi High Court order undermined federation governance and the application of UWW (United World Wrestling) rules. WFI officials declined comment outside court but had maintained their position that policy and process must be followed uniformly.

Phogat’s response, background
Vinesh Phogat, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a 2024 Paris Olympian, had announced her retirement after a controversial disqualification at the Paris Games but withdrew that decision in December 2025, saying she aimed for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Phogat has been off the mat for roughly 18 months before ramping up training. She travelled to Gonda recently to take part in a National Ranking Tournament and posted videos alleging bias and mismanagement in domestic wrestling events. In earlier public statements, she accused former WFI president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and criticised the federation’s handling of competitions and refereeing — allegations that have been part of a broader controversy in Indian wrestling since 2023.

Legal and procedural safeguards
The Delhi High Court’s order emphasised transparency measures: continuous video recording of trials and oversight by SAI and IOA-appointed independent observers. The measures were intended to allay concerns raised by both sides about fairness and to ensure selections are based on performance rather than influence, a court official said.

Impact on team dynamics
Phogat’s participation has drawn attention within the wrestling fraternity and from political quarters: she is also a Congress MLA from Julana in Haryana. Selectors now face a sensitive task balancing legal directives, federation rules and on-ground performance. Coaches and rival athletes have expressed mixed reactions in private, with some welcoming the clarity and others cautioning about potential locker-room tensions ahead of the Asian Games.

What happens next
Trials will proceed in Delhi on May 30–31 under the supervision specified by the High Court. The SAI and IOA are expected to finalise observer appointments and confirm technical protocols later Friday, according to officials briefed on logistics. If Phogat performs to selectors’ expectations, she could be named in the Asian Games contingent to compete in Japan in September.

Legal avenues remain open for WFI to pursue its broader challenge on federation rules, but any further stay on these specific trials would require another urgent intervention — a step WFI did not take successfully before the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Randhir Singh, who won India’s first-ever shooting gold at the Asian Games and later rose to become the first Indian President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), passed away on Wednesday. He was 79.

According to family members, Singh had been battling age-related health complications for some time. He had recently resigned from the OCA top post citing health reasons after being elected for a four-year term in 2024.

Trailblazer in Indian shooting

Singh etched his name in Indian sports history at the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games when he clinched gold in the trap shooting event. This remained a landmark achievement for Indian shooting for years. He followed it up with a bronze medal at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi and a silver in 1986.

A five-time Olympian, Singh represented the country at the Olympics between the 1970s and 1990s. He also competed in the 1978 Commonwealth Games. For his contributions, he was conferred the Arjuna Award in 1979.

Deep roots in sports and administration

Beyond the field, Singh played a significant role in sports governance. He served as Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and was a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). His leadership extended to the continental level when he became the first Indian to head the Olympic Council of Asia.

Rajiv Bhatia, Secretary of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “Randhir Singh was among the most respected personalities in sports administration. He made immense contributions to the development of shooting and the Olympic movement in the country,” Bhatia said.

Sporting family legacy

Singh hailed from a family with a rich sporting tradition. His uncle, Maharaja Yadvindra Singh, had played Test cricket for India and was also a member of the IOC. His father, Bhalindra Singh, was a first-class cricketer and served as an IOC member from 1947 to 1992.

The legacy continues in the next generation. Singh is survived by his wife Vinita and three daughters — Mahima, Sunaina, and Rajeshwari. Rajeshwari, a trap shooter herself, won a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games. Sunaina has served as Vice President of the IOA.

Family members recalled how Singh remained closely involved in supporting his daughter’s shooting career. A photograph from 2022 showing Rajeshwari with her father after her Asian Games medal win had been widely shared.

Tributes pour in

News of his passing triggered condolences from across the Indian sporting fraternity. Many remembered him not just as a champion shooter but as a bridge between athletes and administrators during crucial phases of Indian sport’s growth.

His tenure at the OCA was seen as a significant milestone for Indian representation in Asian Olympic affairs. Though his health forced him to step down earlier than expected, his election itself was celebrated as recognition of India’s growing stature in Olympic governance.

End of an era

With Singh’s demise, Indian shooting loses one of its foundational figures who helped lay the groundwork for the sport’s later successes, including the medals won by later generations of shooters at global events.

As tributes continue to flow in, the focus now shifts to honouring his contributions through memorials and continued development of shooting infrastructure, an area he passionately advocated for throughout his career.

Singh’s journey from a medal-winning athlete in the 1970s to a key figure in Olympic administration spanning over four decades mirrors the evolution of Indian sport itself — from sporadic successes to structured institutional growth.

India bids to host 2038 Asian Games in Ahmedabad; OCA team to visit

India formally proposes Ahmedabad as the host city for the 2038 Asian Games, with the Olympic Council of Asia set to conduct a feasibility recce soon.

India has formally submitted a proposal to host the 2038 Asian Games, earmarking Ahmedabad as the primary host city. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) presented the vision during the Executive Board meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) held in Sanya, China, on Thursday.

The continental governing body has acknowledged India's interest and confirmed that an evaluation team will visit the country shortly. This technical committee will assess the existing infrastructure and the rapid development currently underway in Gujarat’s capital. The move aligns with India's broader strategy to establish itself as a global sporting superpower.

Multi-nation race for 2038

India is not alone in its pursuit of the 2038 slot. According to officials, South Korea and Mongolia have also expressed formal interest in hosting the event. The OCA board discussed these preliminary proposals in Sanya, noting that the competition for the games will be rigorous given the long-term infrastructure commitments required.

The 2026 edition is slated for Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, followed by Doha in 2030 and Riyadh in 2034. By targeting 2038, India aims to secure the next available window in the continental calendar, reinforcing its recent successful bid for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games.

Ahmedabad as sports epicenter

The Gujarat government has already fast-tracked the construction of world-class facilities to support this ambitious bid. Central to this plan is the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave. This massive complex, spread over 355 acres, is designed to house an aquatics center, a tennis hub, and multiple indoor arenas.

Further infrastructure is being developed at the Karai Sports Hub in Gandhinagar. This 143-acre site will feature a dedicated athletics stadium and a high-tech shooting complex. These projects are intended to serve a dual purpose, supporting both the 2038 Asian Games and India’s ongoing pitch for the 2036 Olympic Games.

Return after five decades

If successful, the 2038 Games would mark the return of the "Asiad" to Indian soil after a gap of 56 years. India famously hosted the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 and the 1982 edition, both of which were centered in New Delhi. This would be the first time the event is hosted outside the national capital.

"We have shared our vision for 2038 with the OCA leadership," an IOA statement confirmed. The meeting, attended by IOA President PT Usha and OCA chief Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, focused on athlete pathways and regional collaboration alongside the formal hosting pitch.

Strategic infrastructure cost benefits

Sports ministry sources indicated that hosting the 2038 Asian Games is a "logical and cost-effective" step. Since Ahmedabad will already have completed its infrastructure for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and potentially the 2036 Olympics, the marginal cost for the Asian Games would be significantly lower.

By reusing existing world-class venues, India hopes to avoid the "white elephant" syndrome often associated with large-scale sporting events. The integrated urban development plan for Ahmedabad includes multimodal transport hubs and athlete villages that can be repurposed for residential use post-games.

Evaluation team’s upcoming visit

The upcoming OCA recce is expected to focus on technical specifications, including broadcast capabilities, transport logistics, and hotel inventory. The evaluation team will also review the "Sports City" draft budget, which has seen record allocations from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation this year.

"The visit will be a critical milestone," said a senior official from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. "It allows us to demonstrate that our timelines for the 2030 and 2036 projects are on track, making 2038 a seamless transition for the continental body."

Long-term sporting roadmap

This latest development is part of a larger "India News Update" regarding the country’s 10-year mission to boost its Olympic profile. Beyond the Asian Games, India has already secured the hosting rights for the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar.

The 2038 Asian Games bid is viewed as the final piece of the puzzle in India's decade of dominance in sports administration. As the nation awaits the OCA's feedback, the focus remains on the rapid execution of ground-level projects in Ahmedabad to ensure the city is "Games-ready" well ahead of schedule.