Supreme Court gives big relief to Vinesh Phogat, allows her to compete in Asian Games 2026 trials
PTC Web Desk: The Supreme Court on Friday allowed wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026, which are scheduled to be held on May 30 and 31. The court, however, also raised concerns over the Delhi High Court’s earlier decision that granted relief to the star wrestler.
A Bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe refused to stay the Delhi High Court order and told Vinesh Phogat that she could go ahead and take part in the trials.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court praised Vinesh for her achievements in wrestling and said she had brought pride to the country. At the same time, the Bench made it clear that sports rules and schedules should not be disturbed without proper reason.
The court also discussed the issue related to a missed doping test. It noted that Vinesh had taken a break from wrestling in December 2024 and later informed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) that she would be eligible to return from January 2026 after becoming a mother in 2025.
However, the Bench pointed out that she missed a scheduled doping test in January. According to the court, the International Testing Agency (ITA) did not accept her explanation that she was busy attending Haryana Assembly proceedings as an MLA.
The judges observed that missing a doping test can have serious consequences because Indian sports are linked with international sports bodies. They said such issues can affect the image of the country at the global level.
Earlier on May 22, the Delhi High Court had allowed Vinesh to participate in the trials, calling her an “iconic athlete” and stating that she deserved a fair chance after returning from maternity leave.
The High Court had also ordered the Wrestling Federation of India to video-record the trials and conduct them in the presence of independent observers from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to ensure transparency.
Meanwhile, the WFI argued that the selection process should follow fixed rules for all players and claimed that the list of probable wrestlers had already been sent to the international wrestling body.
- With inputs from agencies
