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.