The Supreme Court dismissed the Wrestling Federation of India’s challenge to orders permitting Vinesh Phogat to participate in the 2026 Asian Games selection trials, holding the matter had become infructuous after the trials concluded and clarifying that all legal issues remain open in pending proceedings.
The Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) challenging judicial orders that allowed wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games. A Bench of Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Aravind Kumar held that the matter had become “infructuous” since the selection trials had already concluded and Phogat did not qualify through the process.
The Court observed that there was no practical purpose in examining the dispute any further because the event in question had already taken place. However, while disposing of the petition, the Bench clarified that its order should not be interpreted as an approval of the findings or observations made by the Delhi High Court. The Court specifically stated that all legal questions arising from the controversy remain open for consideration in the pending proceedings.
The dispute traces its origins to the ongoing differences between Vinesh Phogat and the Wrestling Federation of India over selection procedures and participation in international wrestling competitions. Phogat, one of India’s most accomplished wrestlers and a prominent face of the wrestlers’ protest movement against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, sought permission to participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games after disagreements arose regarding the federation’s selection process.
According to Phogat, she was being unfairly denied an opportunity to compete for a place in the national team. The matter eventually reached the Delhi High Court, where she sought judicial intervention to ensure that she would be permitted to participate in the trials and be considered for selection on merit.
On May 22, the Delhi High Court granted relief to Vinesh Phogat and allowed her to participate in the Asian Games selection trials. While passing the order, the High Court made strong observations regarding the conduct of the Wrestling Federation of India. The Court reportedly described certain actions of the federation as “malicious” and “deplorable” and expressed concern over the manner in which decisions relating to the wrestler’s participation had been handled.
The High Court observed that an athlete’s sporting career is limited and that opportunities to represent the country at major international events cannot be allowed to be jeopardized by administrative actions that may later be found to be unjustified. Taking note of the urgency of the situation, the Court directed that Phogat be allowed to participate in the selection process.
Aggrieved by the High Court’s order and the adverse observations made against it, the Wrestling Federation of India approached the Supreme Court. The federation challenged both the permission granted to Phogat and the remarks recorded by the High Court, arguing that the observations could adversely affect its position while the substantive dispute remained pending before the High Court.
The matter came up before the Supreme Court on May 29, just a day before the scheduled selection trials. During the hearing, the Bench of Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Aravind Kumar was informed that the trials were scheduled to be held on May 30 and 31. The Court was conscious of the fact that delaying the matter could effectively deprive Phogat of the opportunity to compete.
Balancing the interests of both parties, the Supreme Court permitted Vinesh Phogat to participate in the trials while keeping the federation’s challenge pending. The Court made it clear that allowing her participation would not create any special rights or equities in her favour and that the outcome of the selection process would remain subject to the final adjudication of the dispute.
Pursuant to the Supreme Court’s order, Vinesh Phogat participated in the selection trials conducted on May 30 and 31. However, when the matter was taken up again on Thursday, senior advocate D.N. Goburdhun, appearing for the Wrestling Federation of India, informed the Court that Phogat had failed to secure qualification through the selection process.
Goburdhun further submitted that Phogat’s participation had allegedly led to considerable disruption at the venue. He also requested the Court to expunge the observations made by the Delhi High Court in its May 22 order, particularly those describing the federation’s actions as malicious and deplorable. He argued that these remarks should not remain on record because the core dispute is still pending before a Single Judge of the Delhi High Court.
The Supreme Court, however, declined to enter into the merits of the controversy. Since the trials had already concluded and Phogat had not qualified, the Bench held that the relief sought by the federation no longer survived for consideration. Accordingly, the Court dismissed the petition as “infructuous.”
At the same time, the Bench reiterated that its decision should not be construed as endorsing the findings or remarks made by the Delhi High Court. The Court specifically recorded that all legal and factual issues connected to the dispute remain open and can be examined in future proceedings.
The ruling effectively brings an end to the immediate dispute over Vinesh Phogat’s participation in the 2026 Asian Games selection trials. However, the larger issues concerning the Wrestling Federation of India’s decision-making process, athlete selection procedures, and the legality of the observations made by the Delhi High Court remain unresolved and are likely to continue before the High Court in the pending proceedings.
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