Vinesh Phogat: Big relief from Supreme Court, Vinesh Phogat will compete in Asian Games trials

The competition will be held in Delhi on 30th and 31st May
This important match is going to be held in Delhi on 30th and 31st May. On the basis of the results of these selection competitions, the Indian wrestling team will be selected for the Asian Games to be held in Japan in the month of September this year. Earlier on May 22, Delhi High Court had given relief to Vinesh and allowed her to be a part of this selection process, which was challenged by the wrestling association in the apex court.

In order to ensure transparency, the High Court had said that video recording of the entire selection process should be done regularly. Also, orders were given to conduct this entire exercise under the direct supervision of independent observers nominated by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

The division bench of Delhi High Court had upheld Vinesh’s stand.
Before the Supreme Court, Vinesh had also got relief from the division bench of Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia. Actually, Vinesh Phogat had challenged the interim order of the single judge bench of the High Court, which had refused to give any immediate relief on her petition. Through this petition, Vinesh had raised questions on the controversial selection rules of the wrestling association and the legality of the ‘show-cause notice’ sent by the federation to itself.

journey back from retirement

The last most famous match of Vinesh Phogat’s career was seen in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Competing in the 50 kg weight category, she won three tough matches in a single day on 6 August 2024 and secured her ticket to the final by defeating her strong rival Cuba in the semi-finals. However, during the official weighing just before the title clash, his weight was found to be only 100 grams more than the prescribed limit, due to which he was disqualified from the competition.

After this deep shock, Vinesh had emotionally announced to say goodbye to the wrestling world on 8 August 2024. However, later changing his mind, on December 12, 2025, he announced his return to the mat and expressed his desire to represent the country in the Los Angeles Olympics to be held in the year 2028. Presently Vinesh Phogat is also the elected MLA of Congress Party from Julana assembly seat of Jind district of Haryana.

Wrestling association’s ban and serious allegations of embezzlement
The root of the entire controversy is the ban imposed on Vinesh by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The federation had banned Vinesh from participating in any domestic tournament till June 26, 2026, citing ignoring the mandatory six-month notice period prescribed for players returning from retirement under anti-doping rules. Also, a show cause notice was issued to him on charges of indiscipline. The association alleged that Vinesh’s conduct had hurt the reputation of Indian wrestling at the international level.

In response to this, Vinesh shared a video on social media and made very serious allegations against the federation and its former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Vinesh had said that after being away from the arena for one and a half years, she is preparing wholeheartedly for her comeback so that she can win a medal again for the country.

He had raised questions on the fairness of the National Open Ranking Tournament held in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, saying that it is Brij Bhushan’s private college and home area, where it is impossible to get an impartial referee and get a fair result. Vinesh alleged that the Sports Ministry and the government have remained mute spectators and the future of the players has been left in the hands of such people.

Prolonged sexual harassment controversy
In her video message, Vinesh had made a very shocking revelation that she herself was one of the six complainants against the sexual exploitation against which female wrestlers had raised their voice three years ago. She said that she was maintaining decorum as the matter was sub judice, but the truth would soon come out.

It is noteworthy that on January 18, 2023, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia staged a historic protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and made serious allegations of sexual harassment of female athletes against the then Wrestling Association President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the trainers. Vinesh had tearfully told that women wrestlers were exploited in the national camps.

On the other hand, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh had completely rejected all these allegations and said that if proven guilty, he is ready to be hanged. Describing this entire movement as politically motivated, he had claimed that Haryana Congress MP Deependra Hooda was behind it. However, the latest decision of the Supreme Court has given a new lease of life to Vinesh Phogat’s sports career.

After the disappointment of Paris Olympics, announcement of retirement and then announcement of comeback, this is considered to be another important turning point in Vinesh Phogat’s career. Now all eyes will be on the selection trials to be held on May 30-31, where her performance will decide whether she will be able to represent India in the Asian Games or not.