Delhi HC clears Vinesh Phogat for Asian Games selection trials

The Delhi High Court has allowed celebrated wrestler and Haryana Congress MLA Vinesh Phogat to participate in the upcoming Asian Games selection trials, while strongly criticising the selection policy of the Wrestling Federation of India as exclusionary and unfair towards athletes returning after maternity leave.

The order was passed by a bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia during the hearing of Phogat’s appeal against an earlier single-judge order that had denied her immediate relief regarding participation in the trials.

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The court directed that Phogat be allowed to compete in the Asian Games selection trials scheduled for May 30 and 31. It also ordered that the entire trial process be video-recorded by the WFI and monitored by independent observers from the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Olympic Association to ensure transparency.

In its observations, the bench said the federation’s selection policy and related circular were “clearly exclusionary in nature” as they did not provide discretion to consider iconic athletes like Phogat, who had taken a sabbatical due to maternity leave.

The court further observed that preventing her participation would not be in the interest of justice or sports. It also questioned the rationale for the federation’s decision to declare her ineligible for domestic competition until June 26, 2026, under anti-doping rules governing athletes returning from retirement.

During the hearing, the bench remarked that motherhood should not be a disadvantage for sportspersons and criticised the federation for acting in a manner that could harm the interests of sport.

The court also asked the Centre to consider constituting an expert panel to evaluate Phogat’s case and assess her competitive prospects.

Phogat, who competes in the 57-kg category, is now expected to face tough competition from wrestlers including Manisha and Neha during the selection trials.

A wrestler of international acclaim, Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50-kg final at the 2024 Summer Olympics after she was found 100 grams overweight during the morning weigh-in before the bout.

She was also among the leading wrestlers who spearheaded protests in 2023 against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment.