Indian wrestling star Vinesh Phogat’s hopes of making a return to major international competition suffered a significant setback after the Wrestling Federation of India ruled her ineligible for the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games. The federation announced on Wednesday that only medal winners from specific domestic tournaments would be allowed to participate in the Asian Games trials later this month, effectively ending Phogat’s immediate hopes of representing India at the continental event in Japan.
The decision comes at a time when the 31-year-old wrestler was preparing for a comeback after a long absence from competition following the Paris 2024 Olympics. Vinesh had planned to return to the mat at the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, from May 10 to 12, but the Wrestling Federation of India clarified that performances at the event would not count towards eligibility for the Asian Games selection process.
According to the WFI criteria, only wrestlers who secured medals at the 2025 Senior National Wrestling Championships, the 2026 Senior Federation Cup and the Under-20 National Wrestling Championships are eligible to compete in the Asian Games trials. Since Vinesh did not participate in either the Senior Nationals held in December or the Federation Cup conducted earlier this year, she does not qualify for the trials. The federation confirmed that the women’s selection trials for the Asian Games will take place on May 30 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi, while the men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman trials are scheduled for May 31 in Lucknow. The trials will be held across all 18 Olympic weight categories, including six divisions each in women’s wrestling, men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.
The announcement has intensified the already tense relationship between Vinesh Phogat and the Wrestling Federation of India, which has remained strained since the wrestlers’ protests against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in 2023.
Phogat had recently alleged that attempts were being made to prevent her participation in the ranking tournament. The WFI denied the accusations, maintaining that the selection criteria were transparent and applicable to all athletes.
The National Open Ranking Tournament was expected to mark a fresh chapter in Vinesh’s career after nearly 20 months away from competitive wrestling. It was also set to be her first tournament in the 57kg category, making it the fifth weight division of her career.
Her return carried significant emotional weight following the heartbreak of the Paris Olympics, where she became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final before being disqualified ahead of the gold medal bout for being 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in. The disqualification triggered widespread reactions across Indian sport, with many athletes and fans expressing support for the wrestler, who had entered Paris as one of India’s strongest medal hopes.
Soon after the Olympics, Vinesh had announced her retirement from wrestling. However, in December, she reversed the decision and confirmed her intention to continue competing with an eye on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Her journey back to the mat also followed major personal changes, as the wrestler embraced motherhood during her break from the sport.
Despite her comeback plans, the latest WFI decision has placed another obstacle in her path toward international competition.
The controversy surrounding the Gonda tournament further added to tensions. Vinesh had openly questioned the decision to host the competition in a region considered a stronghold of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and raised concerns about fairness during officiating.
“If any untoward incident happens to me, my team or supporters during the competition, the Indian government will be responsible,” she had said in a video message posted on social media on May 3.
“The tournament is being organised at a place where his (Brij Bhushan’s) influence is strong. Who will officiate which bout, how many points will be awarded, who will sit as mat chairman – everything can be controlled by him and his people.” The Wrestling Federation of India has maintained that past achievements and international performances will not be considered during the Asian Games selection process, placing sole emphasis on results at the official trials.
Vinesh Phogat remains one of India’s most decorated wrestlers, having won medals at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games during her illustrious career. She clinched gold at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and has represented India at three Olympic Games.
The 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4, with wrestling expected to remain one of India’s strongest medal-producing sports.
