Ananya Lohia , Delhi - The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has approached the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court’s order allowing wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the 2026 Asian Games selection trials. The plea will be heard by Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe.

On May 22, the Delhi High Court permitted Vinesh to take part in the May 30-31 trials and directed WFI to video-record the process in the presence of observers from the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Olympic Association. The court criticised WFI’s selection policy as “exclusionary” and questioned the lack of flexibility for athletes returning after maternity breaks. Vinesh had argued that the qualification window overlapped with her pregnancy and post-partum recovery period after becoming a mother in July 2025. The bench also objected to WFI calling her 2024 Paris Olympics disqualification a “national embarrassment”, stating that she had reached the final and asking if the country ever viewed it that way. The court remarked that motherhood should not work against an athlete and said the change in selection criteria “spoke volumes.” Former wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat welcomed the High Court order and said the court’s decision should be respected.

With WFI now challenging the order in the Supreme Court, the dispute over Vinesh Phogat’s participation has turned into a major legal and sporting battle, with wider questions being raised about maternity breaks and athlete selection policies in India.