Today, On 29th May, The Supreme Court allowed wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the May 30 Asian Games selection trials. The bench told her, “We are not stopping, you go and participate,” granting her clear permission to compete in the process.
The Supreme Court permitted wrestler Vinesh Phogat to take part in the selection trials for the Asian Games, which are scheduled to be held on May 30.
The court declined to stay an order of the Delhi High Court that had granted her relief.
a Bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe heard the matter.
Hearing a petition filed by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) challenging the High Court’s decision, the Bench refused to put the High Court order on hold, clearing the way for Phogat to compete in the trials.
Justice Narasimha said,
“We are not stopping, you go and participate,”
Senior Advocate Madhavi Divan represented Phogat.
Senior Advocate Madhavi Divan, appearing for Phogat, argued that the case was tied to her motherhood and urged the court to allow her to participate in the trials. Divan sought permission for Phogat to compete, with the decision to be aligned with the outcome of the pending litigation.
Emphasising that Phogat had given birth about ten months earlier, Divan submitted,
“If I am not allowed to participate, that will be a national embarrassment,”
Justice Narasimha said,
“You are an excellent wrestler, you have made the country proud, but it’s the country first. The High Court can’t disrupt the entire schedule,”
Justice Narasimha also observed that Phogat had taken a sabbatical in December 2024, indicating that she would return in August 2025. He further stated that in July 2025, she became a mother and informed the WFI that she would be eligible from January 1, 2026.
Additionally, the Justice said Phogat missed a doping test in January, and that the International Testing Agency (ITA) did not accept her explanation that she had to attend an assembly session as an MLA in Haryana.
Earlier, The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) approached the Supreme Court against a recent order issued by the Delhi High Court. The ruling allows wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026.
Additionally, on May 22, a division bench of the Delhi High Court permitted Phogat to take part in the upcoming selection trials scheduled for May 30 and 31.
In its order, the High Court noted that WFI’s selection policy seemed exclusionary as it did not offer discretionary consideration for elite athletes such as Phogat, who is returning to competitive wrestling following a maternity break.
The court also instructed the Wrestling Federation of India to ensure the trials are video-recorded, emphasizing the need for transparency.
Further, the High Court directed that one independent observer each from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) must be present during the trials.
Vinesh Phogat, widely regarded as one of India’s leading wrestlers, has been at the centre of several significant developments in Indian wrestling in recent years. Her potential comeback to international competition via the Asian Games trials has drawn considerable interest across the sports fraternity.
Phogat had earlier been among the women wrestlers who led protests in 2023 against allegations of sexual harassment involving WFI’s then-president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Case Title: Wrestling Federation of India v. Vinesh Phogat, SLP (c) 19503/2026