The Wrestling Federation of India has moved the Supreme Court challenging a recent order of the Delhi High Court that permitted wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026, despite debate within the wrestling community.
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.
The Supreme Court will hear the matter on Friday before a bench consisting of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe.
Earlier, 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.
The Supreme Court is expected to assess whether the directions issued by the High Court should continue to apply ahead of the trials taking place later this week.
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.