The Supreme Court on Friday permitted wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026 while hearing the Wrestling Federation of India’s challenge to orders passed by the Delhi High Court in the ongoing dispute over selection criteria and exemptions for elite athletes.
During the hearing, counsel appearing for Phogat argued that the revised selection policy unfairly excluded her by refusing to consider past performance and by identifying qualifying tournaments held when she was indisposed. It was submitted that previous policies had consistently taken into account the performances of “iconic” athletes and contained relaxation clauses permitting exemptions in deserving cases. Counsel contended that the 2026 policy marked a departure from past practice and was “tailor-made” to exclude her from consideration.
The Bench of Justice P S Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe repeatedly sought to ascertain the source of the claimed exemption, asking counsel to point to the relevant rule. After being shown a relaxation clause permitting departures from the eligibility criteria upon recommendation by experts and the Sports Authority of India, the Court observed that the matter would require further examination.
At the same time, the Court expressed broader concerns about the growing tendency to bring sporting disputes before courts. Referring to similar issues arising in football and other sports, the Bench remarked:
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“The answers are not in the court. The institutionalisation must be stronger. And we must be having a very strong hand-holding with the participants and the players as well as the performers. That is how to resolve it.”
The Court added that excessive judicial intervention in sports administration often creates further complications and observed that disputes should ideally be resolved through stronger institutional mechanisms rather than adversarial litigation.
While noting the concerns raised by the Wrestling Federation of India and other wrestlers who claimed they would be prejudiced by exemptions granted to Phogat, the Bench declined to prevent her participation at the present stage. The Court observed:
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“Participate. She must participate. After that, we will see.”
The Court further remarked that, having already passed an order permitting participation and created legitimate expectations, it would not be appropriate at this stage to ask the athlete to “go back home.”