The Delhi High Court questioned WFI’s decision to exclude Vinesh Phogat from Asian Games selection trials and asked authorities to explore steps to facilitate her participation.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat receives a warm welcome upon arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport after participating in the Paris Olympics 2024, in New Delhi on Saturday.(ANI Photo/Ritik Jain)
Vinesh Phogat received significant relief from the Delhi High Court on Friday after the court questioned the Wrestling Federation of India over its decision to bar her from domestic competitions and urged authorities to explore ways to allow her participation in the upcoming Asian Games selection trials.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that motherhood should not become a barrier for an athlete attempting to return to elite competition and raised concerns over the federation’s revised eligibility rules.
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The court was hearing Phogat’s appeal against an earlier single-judge order that had denied her interim relief in the matter.
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Appearing for the wrestler, senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao argued that Phogat had regained eligibility earlier this year and completed all registration formalities before being excluded at the final stage. He submitted that the WFI’s revised selection criteria unfairly restricted Asian Games trial participation to medal winners from selected national tournaments held in 2025 and 2026, a period during which Phogat was away from wrestling due to maternity and post-partum recovery.
The bench orally remarked that the federation’s policy shift required closer examination, especially considering Phogat’s stature as an internationally accomplished athlete.
The High Court also questioned portions of the WFI’s show-cause notice issued to Phogat, particularly references to her disqualification from the final of the 2024 Summer Olympics after failing to make weight.
The judges observed that the incident could not be viewed in isolation and asked whether the federation’s handling of the matter truly served the interests of Indian wrestling.
During the hearing, the court asked the Centre whether the Union Sports Ministry had examined the revised WFI policy and what steps had been taken after the show-cause notice was issued.
Counsel representing the Union government clarified that the Centre had not independently barred Phogat from participating in the trials and said relaxation provisions under the Sports Authority of India framework could be considered in deserving cases.
The government also informed the court that it was open to appointing an observer from the Sports Authority of India to monitor the trials and ensure the process was video recorded.
Following the submissions, the Delhi High Court directed the Centre and WFI to seek instructions and explore mechanisms to facilitate Phogat’s participation, including the possibility of constituting an expert panel to assess her eligibility.
The latest development comes days after Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav declined interim relief on Phogat’s plea seeking permission to compete in the May 30-31 Asian Games selection trials, while listing the matter for further hearing in July.
The dispute stems from a revised WFI eligibility policy introduced earlier this month, which restricted participation in the selection trials to medal winners from specific national-level events conducted in 2025 and 2026. The move effectively ruled out Phogat, who has not competed professionally since the Paris Olympics.
Phogat has challenged both the revised criteria and the disciplinary proceedings initiated against her by the federation.
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