Vinesh Phogat's bid to qualify for the Asian Games 2026 ended after a 4-6 semifinal defeat to Meenakshi in the women's 53kg category, capping a dramatic day marked by legal battles and selection controversy.
Vinesh Phogat's 53kg quarterfinal victory over Nishu at the Asian Games selection trials was overshadowed by disputed scoring calls, technical glitches and heated exchanges involving her camp and WFI officials before she advanced to the semifinals.
Vinesh Phogat advanced to the women's 53kg semifinals at the Asian Games selection trials in New Delhi, defeating Nishu 7-6 after opening her campaign with a 7-1 victory over Jyoti.
Vinesh Phogat opened her Asian Games selection trials campaign with a 7-1 win in the 53kg category in New Delhi, amid pre-bout drama and ongoing controversy over weigh-in and federation decisions.
After a day of confusion over weight categories and WFI directives, Vinesh Phogat was eventually cleared to compete in the 53kg division at the Asian Games selection trials.
The controversy between Vinesh Phogat and the Wrestling Federation of India escalates as former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh distances himself from the row.
Vinesh Phogat has responded to the WFI show-cause notice, rejecting allegations of rule violations and claiming the federation misinterpreted her comeback timeline.
Vinesh Phogat has been declared ineligible for Wrestling Federation of India events till June 2026 after the federation issued a show-cause notice citing disciplinary and anti-doping-related violations.
The Wrestling Federation of India’s new eligibility criteria for Asian Games trials could rule out Vinesh Phogat, who has not competed since the Paris Olympics 2024.
The protesting wrestlers who had not trained since January in any official camp were still retained in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) scheme.
