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Delhi High Court refuses interim relief for the wrestler to enter the selection trials. (Image: Google)
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has refused to grant wrestler Vinesh Phogat interim permission to compete in the selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma held that the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) eligibility conditions could not be selectively relaxed for Phogat while the validity of the federation’s policy itself remains under examination.
The court stressed that India’s representatives for international competitions should be chosen through a uniform, fair and performance-based process.
While considering Phogat’s plea, the court observed that granting her a special exemption could potentially disadvantage other wrestlers who may have similar concerns, but are not parties to the proceedings. The judge noted that making an exception at the interim stage could also lead to other athletes seeking comparable exemptions from the eligibility requirements. The court therefore declined to permit Phogat to take part in the trials before determining whether the WFI policy itself is legally sustainable.
Phogat had approached the High Court against a WFI circular issued on September 7, 2026, that lays down eligibility requirements linked to participation in designated competitions during 2025 and 2026. The wrestler argued that she could not participate in some of the specified events because of pregnancy, childbirth and subsequent post-partum recovery. She also contended that she had been stopped from competing at the Senior Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda after receiving a show-cause notice from the federation questioning her eligibility.
The High Court acknowledged that Phogat’s absence from competitions because of maternity-related circumstances would have to be considered while assessing the legality of the WFI selection framework. However, Justice Sharma made it clear that this issue did not automatically give Phogat a right to bypass the eligibility requirements while the larger challenge remains pending.
The court indicated that the question of how selection rules should accommodate women athletes returning after maternity leave requires proper consideration rather than an individual exemption.
The court also referred to Phogat’s earlier legal proceedings, during which a division bench had allowed her to participate in the Asian Games selection trials in May. Phogat subsequently competed in the 53 kg category and advanced to the semi-final stage, but she was ultimately not selected for the Asian Games. The court further noted that a separate show-cause notice relating to alleged misconduct during those trials is still pending.
During the hearing, the court had orally indicated that the WFI should consider developing guidelines for female wrestlers returning to competition after maternity leave. Justice Sharma had also emphasised the need to balance the interests of the country with the rights and circumstances of individual athletes. For now, however, Phogat will not receive the interim exemption she sought. The broader challenge to the WFI’s eligibility framework remains to be considered. The 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships are scheduled to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1, 2026.
Phogat was represented by Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao, along with advocates Aashita Khanna, Ritwik Prakash, Neil M Goswami and Vishakha Gupta. WFI was represented by advocates Hemant Phalpher and Karishmit Keswani.
