The Delhi High Court on Saturday refused to interfere with the exemption granted to top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia from Asian Games trials.

Justice Subramonium Prasad dismissed the petition by under-20 world champion Antim Panghal and under-23 Asian champion Sujeet Kalkal against the direct entry allowed to Phogat and Punia to participate in the tournament.

“Writ petition is dismissed,” the judge said.

A detailed copy of the order is awaited.

Phogat (53kg) and Punia (65kg) were given direct entries for the Asian Games by the Indian Olympic Association’s ad hoc committee last Tuesday, while other wrestlers will have to earn their places in the India squad through ongoing selection trials.

Panghal and Kalkal moved the high court on July 19 challenging the exemption and demanding a fair selection process for the quadrennial showpiece event.

The petition had demanded that the directive issued by the IOA ad hoc committee with regard to the two categories (men’s freestyle 65kg and women’s 53kg) be quashed and the exemption granted to Phogat and Punia set aside.

Panghal won the 53kg trials and then vowed to keep on fighting for justice.

"I won the trial fair and square. Why should I be the standby player, I won the trial. The one who did not compete should be a standby player in 53kg. My petition has been dismissed but I won't stop, I will keep fighting, we will move the Supreme Court," Panghal told reporters.

"If she keeps getting direct entries like this, how will one know how good we are. We will keep trying. My coach will decide what we are going to do next but the fight will continue. What's the point of me winning three bouts," she said.

Panghal, 19 put up a dominant show in the 53kg category, winning all her bouts without much fuss.

Handed a bye in the first round, the 2022 under-20 world champion began with a 7-2 win over Tamanna and followed that up with a technical superiority win against Neha to move into the semifinals.

The final was even better as she pinned her rival Manju inside two minutes.

The 57kg category turned to be very competitive as it featured World Championship silver-medal winner Anshu Malik and Worlds bronze winner Sarita Mor.

Sarita Mor raced to a 5-0 lead against Anshu. However, Anshu bounced back and narrowed the difference to 4-5 but Sarita used immense power to prevail.

Sarita was later shocked by Mansi Ahlawat.