‘She made country proud’: Supreme Court allows Vinesh Phogat to compete in Asian Games trials

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere with the Delhi high court order allowing Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games, observing that the athlete had brought laurels to the country through her achievements in wrestling.“If anybody else, it would have been on a different footing. She’s made the country proud”, the apex court said.The top court’s order came on a plea filed by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) challenging the high court direction permitting Phogat to compete in the trials, scheduled for May 30 and 31. To ensure fairness, the court ordered video recording of the process and asked that independent observers nominated by the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Olympic Association oversee the trials.The HC had noted that Phogat had informed the International Testing Agency in December 2024 that she was stepping away from competition due to pregnancy, with plans to return later. After giving birth in July 2025, she resumed training, and the agency subsequently cleared her to compete from 2026.Also read: Vinesh Phogat’s comeback hits fresh roadblock as WFI moves Supreme Court against Delhi HC orderThe court observed that her absence during pregnancy prevented her from participating in the qualifying tournaments required under the WFI policy, leading to her exclusion from the trials. It prima facie held that the policy unfairly limited participation to medal winners from specific events, thereby excluding wrestlers such as Phogat.The court also criticised remarks made in the WFI’s show-cause notice relating to the Paris Olympics weigh-in controversy. Calling references to the episode as a 'national embarrassment' deplorable, the court said the comments appeared vindictive, especially since the Court of Arbitration for Sport had found no wrongdoing on Phogat’s part.The SC, however, flagged concerns with the manner in which the HC examined the matter but decided not to interfere with their order."These are not medical college admissions but national and international sports. It can't be like courts will interfere in this manner and disrupt the entire schedule", Justice PS Narasimha remarked during the hearing.Phogat has been asked to respond to the plea filed by WFI against the Delhi HC order permitting her to appear in the Asian Games selection trials. The matter will now be heard on June 1.