India, May 23 -- A division bench of the Delhi high court on Friday permitted wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games scheduled for May 30 and 31.

A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, in its verdict released on Saturday, observed that Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)'s selection criteria for the Asian Games-- which restricted eligibility to wrestlers who won medals in 2025 while disregarding earlier performances-- was exclusionary.

It left no discretion for the federation to consider accomplished athletes like Phogat, who took a sabbatical due to maternity leave, and also marked a significant deviation from the past practice, the court said.

In its 15-page orde...