Supreme Court clears wrestler Vinesh Phogat for crucial trials

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat secured dynamic legal relief on Friday when the Supreme Court of India cleared her to compete in the high-stakes selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games. A judicial bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe declined to put a stay on a previous Delhi High Court judgment that favored the star athlete. This critical decision permits her to step onto the mat at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi for the intensive trials scheduled across May 30 and 31.

While the apex court granted her permission based on her past international laurels, the judges issued strong remarks regarding administrative lapses. The top court expressed deep concern over her missing an official doping evaluation earlier this January. The International Testing Agency previously rejected her justification that legislative duties as a Haryana lawmaker kept her away from the sample collectors. Justices emphasised that global anti-doping compliance remains paramount, warning that international sports organizations function on strict, unyielding protocols that India must respect to avoid global penalties.

The legal battle reached the apex court after the Wrestling Federation of India challenged the regional court order. The lower court originally ruled that motherhood should not act as a barrier to elite athletic selection, following her brief maternity leave in mid-2025. This dispute carries major historical weight because Indian wrestling selection has faced years of administrative turbulence, athlete protests, and court interventions, disrupting normal preparation cycles. Though the court slammed hasty judicial interference in national sports programming, it prioritized the athlete's immediate opportunity. The bench scheduled a comprehensive review hearing for June 1 to examine the structural anti-doping conflict further.