The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court order that allowed celebrated wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games.
The apex court is expected to hear the matter on Friday after WFI contested the High Court’s recent interim relief granted to Phogat, who is attempting a return to competitive wrestling following her maternity break.
The Delhi High Court had earlier observed that WFI’s selection policy appeared “exclusionary” as it failed to account for elite athletes returning from maternity leave. The court permitted Phogat to compete in the Asian Games selection trials scheduled for May 30 and 31 in the “interest of sports and justice.”
The High Court also directed that the trials be video-recorded and monitored by independent observers from the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Olympic Association to ensure transparency in the process.
Phogat had challenged the WFI policy after being declared ineligible for the trials because she could not participate in qualifying domestic tournaments during her maternity sabbatical and post-partum recovery period.
The dispute has added another chapter to the strained relationship between Phogat and the WFI, which has remained under scrutiny following controversies surrounding governance and athlete treatment in recent years.
A three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and former Asian Games champion, Phogat announced her comeback to wrestling earlier this year with the aim of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Discussion about this post