Wrestler Vinesh Phogat Excluded from Asian Games 2026 Consideration
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat will not be eligible to compete in the Asian Games 2026 after being excluded from selection trials due to the Wrestling Federation of India’s new eligibility rules. Under these rules, only those who win medals at specific competitions in 2025 and 2026 will be allowed to compete in the selection trials, which leaves Phogat out since she hasn’t participated in any events since her unfortunate disqualification at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Phogat has expressed concerns about the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) potentially blocking her return to the sport. She noted that her attempts to register for the National Open Ranking Tournament went unanswered by the federation.
“I hope to make a comeback at the National Open Ranking Tournament,” she said, mentioning that the registration was supposed to be open until April 30. “However, when I tried to register, I found out it was already closed.” After she spoke out, the WFI processed her registration on the last day, but WFI president Sanjay Singh denied any wrongdoing, claiming her application was already completed before her complaint.
Phogat also reported experiencing similar issues before the Federation Cup, stating, “I wanted to compete there, but the criteria for team selection changed at the last minute, which prevented my participation.” She believes there is a deliberate effort to keep her from competing, especially since upcoming tournaments are crucial for selection trials for the Asian Games and World Championships.
The WFI’s latest announcement seems to confirm her worries. They have stated that only medal winners from designated events in 2025 and 2026 will qualify, completely overlooking previous achievements.
Eligibility Criteria for Asian Games Selection Trials
- All medal winners of the 2025 Senior National Wrestling Championship in Ahmedabad, Gujarat (December 12-14, 2025).
- All medal winners of the 2026 Senior Federation Cup in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh (February 12-14, 2026).
- All medal winners of the Under 20 National Wrestling Championship in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh (April 10-12, 2026).
The trials for women’s wrestling will take place on May 30 at Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi, while the freestyle and Greco Roman trials are set for May 31 at the SAI Regional Centre in Lucknow.
