Vinesh Phogat is competing in the Asian Games 2026 [1] selection trials at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi after receiving Supreme Court relief.

The decision marks a significant legal victory for the Olympic wrestler, who had been excluded from the trials by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) due to a maternity-related absence. This case highlights the tension between athletic federation policies and legal protections for athletes returning from maternity leave.

The legal battle intensified when the WFI challenged a Delhi High Court order that had previously allowed Phogat to participate. On May 28, 2026 [2], the matter moved toward a final resolution in the Supreme Court. The court ruled in favor of Phogat, providing the necessary legal clearance for her to enter the trials on May 29, 2026 [3].

The WFI had previously flagged the intervention of the courts as judicial overreach in the selection process. However, the Supreme Court ordered that Phogat be allowed to compete, ensuring she could vie for a spot in the 2026 [1] games despite her time away from the mat.

Phogat's return to the Indira Gandhi Stadium occurs amid high scrutiny from the sporting community. Her participation depends on her performance in these trials, which determine the official Indian roster for the upcoming continental competition.

The court's decision to allow her participation serves as a precedent for how maternity absences are handled within national sports federations in India. While the WFI sought to maintain its selection criteria, the judiciary prioritized the athlete's right to compete after a protected absence.

“Vinesh Phogat is competing in the Asian Games 2026 selection trials”

This ruling establishes a critical legal benchmark for Indian athletes, suggesting that maternity-related absences cannot be used as a primary basis for exclusion from national team selections. It shifts the power dynamic away from sports federations' unilateral discretion and toward a judicial standard of fairness and inclusivity for female athletes.