WFI challenges Delhi HC relief to Vinesh Phogat over Asian Games 2026 selection trials

The Wrestling Federation of India approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s order permitting wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in Asian Games 2026 selection trials. The high court had cited her maternity break and directed video-recorded trials under independent observation by SAI and IOA representatives

New Delhi: The Wrestling Federation of India has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s order allowing grappler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026.

A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe is scheduled to hear the Federation’s plea on Friday. On May 22, a division bench of the high court had given its nod to the participation of Phogat in the upcoming trials for the Asian Games, saying the WFI’s selection policy was exclusionary for the lack of discretion to consider an iconic player like her, who is returning from a maternity break.

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The high court had ordered that the selection trials, to be held on May 30-31, shall be video-recorded by the WFI and an independent observer from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) each shall also remain present.