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The elite wrestling career of Vinesh Phogat has hit a significant roadblock as she has been excluded from the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games. Under the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) latest eligibility criteria, the veteran wrestler will not be considered for the squad, effectively stalling her return to the international stage following a period of inactivity.
The new regulations mandate that only athletes who secured medals in competitions during the 2025 and 2026 seasons are eligible to participate in the trials. Because Phogat has not competed professionally since her disqualification at the Paris 2024 Olympics, she fails to meet these specific performance benchmarks. This technicality serves as a definitive barrier to her qualification for the upcoming continental games.
WFI shuts the door on Vinesh Phogat's Asian Games hopes
This development appears to confirm the concerns Phogat voiced previously regarding the WFI's influence over her domestic comeback. She had earlier alleged that the federation was actively obstructing her path, claiming they ignored her attempts to register for the National Open Ranking Tournament. This latest exclusion intensifies the ongoing friction between the decorated wrestler and the sport's governing body in India.
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The situation escalated when Vinesh Phogat’s registration was finally processed on the deadline day, but only after she had voiced her concerns publicly. While Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh denied any intent to sideline the wrestler, maintaining that the registration had already been completed, the timing of the confirmation raised eyebrows, as it appeared to have been finalized only after her formal complaint surfaced. Beyond the registration dispute, Phogat has alleged that this is not an isolated incident of administrative friction. She claimed to have faced similar obstacles during the lead-up to the Federation Cup, where she intended to compete as part of her comeback. According to the veteran athlete, abrupt changes to the team selection criteria at the last minute prevented her from participating, fueling her belief that deliberate barriers are being placed to hinder her return to professional wrestling.
“I am hoping to make a comeback at the National Open Ranking Tournament. The registration for it was open till April 30. However, when I tried to register, the portal says it is now closed. I intended to compete there too, but the team selection criteria were changed at the last minute, so I couldn’t take part,” she said. “It feels like this is a deliberate attempt to stop me from competing, especially since this is an important tournament to remain in contention for the Asian Games and World Championship selection trials,” Vinesh had earlier said.
The latest directive from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) effectively solidifies Vinesh Phogat’s concerns regarding her competitive future. By restricting trial eligibility exclusively to medalists from a select few events in 2025 and 2026, the federation has made it clear that past achievements, no matter how significant—will not be factored into the selection process for the upcoming Asian Games.
The criteria for the trials are strictly limited to top performers from three specific domestic tournaments. Eligible participants include medal winners from the 2025 Senior National Wrestling Championship held in Ahmedabad, the 2026 Senior Federation Cup in Ghaziabad, and the Under-20 National Wrestling Championship recently concluded in Bhilai. This narrow qualification window creates an insurmountable barrier for any athlete, including Phogat, who did not participate in these specific windows.
Wrestling fans can look forward to the final selection battles later this month. The women’s wrestling trials are set to take place on May 30 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. This will be followed by the freestyle and Greco-Roman trials on May 31, which are scheduled to be held at the SAI Regional Centre in Lucknow.
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