The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court's order that permitted Olympian Vinesh Phogat to compete in the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games. The trials are scheduled for Saturday in New Delhi, but this legal challenge casts uncertainty over her return to competitive wrestling.
WFI's Special Leave Petition
In its Special Leave Petition (SLP), the WFI described the Delhi High Court division bench order of May 22 as “ex facie illegal”. The federation argued that it was not given adequate opportunity to file a detailed reply before the court directed Vinesh's inclusion in the trials.
Eligibility Dispute
According to a report by news agency PTI, the WFI maintained that Vinesh was “ineligible” under the published selection criteria for the Asian Games trials in Aichi-Nagoya. The federation asserted that athlete selection for international multi-sport events falls solely within the powers of the recognised National Sports Federation.
The WFI further cautioned against “judicial overreach”, stating that courts should avoid interfering in sporting selection matters. It detailed that Vinesh had voluntarily retired from wrestling in December 2024 through communications to the International Testing Agency (ITA).
Anti-Doping Regulations
Under United World Wrestling (UWW) anti-doping regulations read with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, any athlete returning from retirement must complete a mandatory six-month whereabouts and dope-testing period. The federation noted a “recorded missed test” against Vinesh on May 4, related to an unsuccessful testing attempt on December 18, 2025. Consequently, the WFI issued a show-cause notice on May 9, and disciplinary proceedings are still pending.
Delhi HC's Earlier Order
The WFI also argued that its selection policy, published in February 2026, contained no provision for an “iconic player” or maternity-based exemption. Selections have consistently been based on merit and recent performances. The federation highlighted that 12 wrestlers in each weight category had already qualified through performances at the Senior National Championships, Senior Federation Cup, and Under-20 National Championships, and claimed those wrestlers were not heard before the High Court passed its order.
Vinesh had initially approached the Delhi High Court after being denied entry in the National Open Ranking event, which was to mark her comeback. She failed to secure relief initially, but the division bench later directed the WFI to allow her participation in the May 30 trials in Delhi.
