Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 30: Former World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat was on Saturday allowed to compete in the women's 53kg category at the Asian Games selection trials after the Wrestling Federation of India reversed its earlier decision restricting her participation to the 50kg division.

The development came after a dramatic sequence of events during the official weigh-in ahead of the trials, where Vinesh was initially informed that she would only be eligible to compete in the 50kg category.

According to federation officials, the decision was based on the fact that Vinesh had competed in the 50kg weight class in her last four international tournaments, including the women's 50kg event at the Paris Olympics.

The move sparked confusion and objections from Vinesh's camp, which maintained that she had entered the trials for the 53kg category and should be allowed to compete in that division.

Following discussions among WFI officials and trial organisers, the federation reviewed the matter and eventually permitted the star wrestler to participate in the 53kg category, paving the way for her to contest for a place in India's Asian Games squad.

The decision is significant as Vinesh has previously enjoyed considerable success in the 53kg division and has competed in multiple weight categories during her international career.

Vinesh remains one of India's most accomplished wrestlers, having won medals at the World Championships, the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. Her participation in the trials has attracted considerable attention given her stature in Indian wrestling and the controversies that have surrounded the sport in recent years.

The Asian Games selection trials are being closely watched as wrestlers compete for spots in India's contingent for the upcoming continental event. The winners of the trials are expected to earn selection for the national squad, subject to federation and Sports Authority of India guidelines.

With the WFI's reversal, Vinesh will now get the opportunity to compete in her preferred 53kg category and fight for a place in the Indian team.

Why the issue became contentious

The controversy stemmed from Vinesh's recent international appearances in the 50kg category, including the Paris Olympics, where she competed after reducing weight to fit into the division. WFI officials initially argued that athletes should continue in the category in which they had recently represented the country internationally.

However, supporters of Vinesh pointed out that wrestlers often move between weight categories depending on competition requirements and that there was no rule preventing her from entering the 53kg trials.

Following deliberations, the federation opted to allow her participation, avoiding what could have become a major dispute ahead of the selection process.

The trials are expected to continue over the weekend, with several top Indian wrestlers competing for berths in the national squad.