Suspense over Vinesh Phogat’s weight category ahead of Asian Games trials

NEW DELHI: After both the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court allowed wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the Asian Games selection trials, attention has now shifted to a key unresolved issue – the weight category in which she will compete at the trials scheduled at the K D Jadhav indoor hall of the IG stadium here on Saturday.

While Vinesh has expressed desire to compete in the women’s 53kg category, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) officials have maintained that she should only be permitted to participate in the 50kg division.




The high court, while hearing the matter earlier this week, rejected the WFI’s plea seeking to declare Vinesh ineligible for the trials. The two-judge bench allowed her participation, but its 15-page order did not specifically mention the weight category in which she could compete. Subsequently, the apex court also dismissed the WFI’s special leave petition (SLP) challenging her participation, but similarly didn’t clarify the category issue.

Vinesh’s counsel had informed the high court that the wrestler intended to compete in the 53kg category, where prominent wrestlers including Antim Panghal, Nishu Bhanwala and Meenakshi Goyat are expected to participate. However, WFI officials argue that since the court orders remain silent on the category issue, she should compete in the 50kg class – the category in which she last competed internationally.

The federation has linked its stand to the WFI’s “Iconic Athlete” policy, which allows direct consideration for elite athletes based on exceptional performances. According to WFI sources, Vinesh’s iconic athlete status stems from her Paris Olympics campaign in the women’s 50kg category, where she reached the final before being disqualified for being overweight during weigh-in.

Sources said Vinesh has not yet formally informed the federation about her preferred category for trials. The WFI officials indicated she may be asked to appear for the 50kg weigh-in.

Meanwhile, former footballer Aditi Chauhan and Olympic gold medal-winning former hockey captain M M Somaiya will serve as observers from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and sports ministry respectively during the trials.

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