Vinesh Phogat clears 53kg weigh-in for Asian Games selection trials
Synopsis
After a Supreme Court refusal to block her and a last-minute WFI attempt to force her into the 50kg category, Vinesh Phogat cleared the 53kg weigh-in at Indira Gandhi Stadium — the latest chapter in one of Indian sport's most turbulent comebacks. The selection trials will now test whether her ring craft can outlast the administrative resistance.
Key Takeaways
Vinesh Phogat successfully completed the women's 53kg weigh-in at Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi on 30 May .
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) confirmed all eligible wrestlers, including Phogat, fulfilled the prescribed formalities.
The Supreme Court had earlier refused to stay a Delhi High Court order allowing her participation in the trials.
WFI had reportedly insisted she compete in the 50kg category — the weight class she used at the Paris Olympics 2024 — rather than 53kg.
Phogat, 31 , reversed her retirement decision in December 2025 with the LA 2028 Olympics as her target.
Olympian Vinesh Phogat cleared a key procedural hurdle on Friday, 30 May after successfully completing the weigh-in for the women's 53kg category at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi, making her eligible to compete in the Asian Games selection trials set to begin shortly.
What Happened at the Weigh-In
All eligible wrestlers across weight categories reported to the Indira Gandhi Stadium as per the approved schedule. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) confirmed in an official statement that Phogat completed all requisite formalities and was cleared to participate.
'The weigh-in for all weight categories, including the Women's 53kg category, was conducted at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi, as per the approved schedule for the Asian Games selection trials. All eligible wrestlers, including Ms. Vinesh Phogat, reported for the weigh-in and completed the requisite formalities. Accordingly, all eligible wrestlers who fulfilled the prescribed requirements have been cleared to participate in the selection trials, which are scheduled to commence shortly,' WFI said in its statement.
The Legal and Administrative Battle
Phogat's participation had been in serious doubt following a protracted legal dispute. The Supreme Court declined to stay a Delhi High Court order that had permitted her entry into the trials, leaving the WFI's challenge without immediate relief. Even after the court's refusal, the federation reportedly attempted a fresh obstacle — insisting that Phogat compete in the 50kg category, the weight class in which she had represented India at the Paris Olympics in 2024, rather than the 53kg division she recently switched to.
According to reports, WFI sources had stated: 'Vinesh Phogat will have to participate in trials in the 50kg category, the same weight class in which she competed at the Paris Olympics. As an iconic wrestler, she will be allowed to take part in the selection process, but only in the 50kg division.' Critics argued this last-minute insistence was designed to make the weigh-in difficult for Phogat, who had already moved up to 53kg.
Phogat's Wrestling Journey
The 31-year-old wrestler from Haryana's celebrated Phogat family began her career in the 48kg category before moving up to 51kg and eventually settling in 53kg — a division in which she claimed two World Championship medals and a medal at the Tokyo Olympics. She later competed in both the 53kg and 50kg categories during the Paris Olympic trials, ultimately qualifying in 50kg. At the Paris Olympics 2024, she reached the final of the 50kg event but was disqualified after failing to make weight by a narrow margin on the morning of the gold-medal bout.
Following that heartbreak, Phogat announced her retirement the very next day. However, in December 2025, she reversed that decision with her sights set on the LA 2028 Olympics. During her time away from the mat, she also became a mother in July 2025.
What Comes Next
With the weigh-in cleared, Phogat is now set to compete in the selection trials. Her performance will determine whether she earns a berth in India's Asian Games squad. Given the legal battles, administrative resistance, and her personal comeback narrative, the trials carry significance well beyond the mat.
Point of View
But it does not resolve the deeper dysfunction on display. The WFI's eleventh-hour attempt to redirect Phogat to the 50kg category — after the Supreme Court had already declined to block her — reads less like a rules interpretation and more like institutional resistance to a wrestler who has publicly challenged the federation's leadership. India's wrestling administration has a pattern of making athlete welfare subordinate to internal politics, and Phogat's case is the most visible example yet. The real test is not whether she makes the Asian Games squad, but whether the sport's governance can move past its factional battles before LA 2028.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Vinesh Phogat clear the weigh-in for the Asian Games selection trials?
Yes. Vinesh Phogat successfully completed the weigh-in for the women's 53kg category at Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi on 30 May, and has been cleared to compete in the Asian Games selection trials.
Why was Vinesh Phogat's participation in the trials disputed?
The Wrestling Federation of India had challenged a Delhi High Court order permitting her participation, taking the matter to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court refused to stay the High Court order. The WFI also reportedly insisted she compete in the 50kg category — her Paris Olympics weight class — rather than 53kg, which she recently switched to.
What weight category is Vinesh Phogat competing in?
Phogat competed in the 53kg weigh-in on 30 May. She had recently switched to 53kg, a category in which she won two World Championship medals and an Olympic medal at Tokyo.
Why did Vinesh Phogat come out of retirement?
Phogat, who announced her retirement after being disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024 final due to a marginal weight excess, reversed that decision in December 2025. She has set her sights on qualifying for the LA 2028 Olympics.
What happened to Vinesh Phogat at the Paris Olympics 2024?
Phogat reached the final of the women's 50kg wrestling event at the Paris Olympics 2024 but was disqualified on the morning of the gold-medal bout after failing to make the weight limit by a narrow margin.
