Vinesh Phogat Limited to 50 kg Category for Asian Games Trials, Says WFI

New Delhi, May 30: The Supreme Court has denied a stay on the Delhi High Court’s order allowing Olympian Vinesh Phogat to participate in the Asian Games selection trials. Following this, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) announced that she will only be permitted to compete in the 50 kg weight category, the same category in which she participated at the Paris Olympics two years ago.

The WFI approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Delhi High Court’s ruling. However, when the Supreme Court refused to bar Phogat from the trials, the federation imposed another restriction. They stated that Vinesh must compete in the 50 kg category instead of the 57 kg category, which she recently switched to.

Sources from WFI revealed, “Vinesh Phogat will only be allowed to participate in the 50 kg category, the same category she competed in at the Paris Olympics. As a renowned wrestler, she will be permitted to take part in the selection process, but only in the 50 kg category. The weigh-in is scheduled for early morning.”

It appears that the WFI has invoked this rule just before the competitions begin, possibly hoping that Vinesh will not make the weight during the weigh-in on Saturday morning.

Starting her career in the 48 kg category, Vinesh moved up to 51 kg and then settled in the 53 kg category. In this weight class, she won two World Championship medals and also secured a medal at the Tokyo Olympics. However, during the trials for the Paris Olympics, she competed in both the 53 kg and 50 kg categories, ultimately qualifying in the 50 kg category. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she reached the finals in the 50 kg category but narrowly missed the weight limit during the weigh-in on the final day.

One of the famous Phogat sisters from Haryana, the 31-year-old wrestler announced her retirement just a day after her loss at the Paris Olympics. However, in December 2025, she reversed her retirement decision and set her sights on the LA 2028 Olympics. During her time away from the mat, Vinesh became a mother last July.