Supreme Court Allows Vinesh Phogat to Compete in Asian Games Trials Amid Concerns
Supreme Court Grants Permission for Trials
On Friday, the Supreme Court granted permission to renowned wrestler and Olympian Vinesh Phogat to take part in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026. The Court expressed its apprehensions regarding judicial involvement in sports governance, stating, "If it were anyone else, the situation would be different. She has made the nation proud."
Judicial Interference Concerns Raised
The apex court voiced its concerns about the way the Delhi High Court handled the case, warning that swift judicial interventions could disrupt both national and international sporting events. During the proceedings, the Supreme Court remarked, "You have been an outstanding athlete. But the country comes first," while addressing a petition from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) that contested the Delhi High Court's ruling allowing Phogat to compete in the trials.
Remarks on Judicial Involvement
"These are not admissions for medical colleges; they are national and international sports events. Courts should not interfere in such a way that it disrupts the entire schedule," Justice PS Narasimha commented during the hearing. The Supreme Court provided interim relief to Phogat and requested her response to the WFI's petition against her participation in the trials, with the next hearing set for Monday, June 1.
Details of the Delhi High Court's Ruling
In a ruling dated May 22, the Delhi High Court ordered that Phogat be allowed to participate in the selection trials scheduled for May 30 and 31. The Court mandated that the trials be recorded on video and conducted under the oversight of independent observers from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to ensure a transparent selection process. This decision was made by a Division Bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, while considering Phogat's appeal against a prior interim order from a single-judge Bench that denied her relief in her ongoing writ petition challenging the WFI's selection policy.
Background of the Controversy
Phogat previously contested the WFI's Asian Games Selection Policy issued on February 25, 2026, along with a circular from May 6, 2026, which limited eligibility for the selection trials to medalists from certain domestic tournaments held in 2025 and 2026. Phogat had informed the International Testing Agency (ITA) in December 2024 about her maternity leave and her intention to return to competition later. After giving birth in July 2025, she resumed her training, and the ITA confirmed her eligibility to compete starting January 1, 2026. The Court noted that her maternity leave prevented her from participating in the championships that were prerequisites for eligibility under the WFI policy, leading to her exclusion from the trials.
Court Critiques WFI's Selection Policy
The Bench found the WFI's policy and circular to be prima facie arbitrary and discriminatory, as they limited participation to medal winners from specific events, thereby excluding athletes like Phogat. The Court also criticized the WFI's comments in the show-cause notice issued to Phogat regarding the Paris Olympics 2024 weigh-in incident, labeling the remarks as "deplorable" and suggesting they were vindictive, especially since the Court of Arbitration for Sport had previously ruled that Phogat had not committed any wrongdoing. The Division Bench clarified that it had not made any final judgments regarding the case's merits and that the pending writ petition would be evaluated independently.