The Delhi High Court has cleared the way for celebrated Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat to compete in the upcoming Asian Games selection trials, observing that the Wrestling Federation of India’s current selection policy unfairly excludes elite athletes returning after maternity breaks. A division bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed that Phogat must be allowed to participate in the trials scheduled for May 30 and 31. The court also ordered the Wrestling Federation of India to video-record the entire selection process, while independent observers from the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Olympic Association will oversee the proceedings. “The appellant shall be permitted to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games, 2026, which are scheduled for 30.05.2026 and 31.05.2026,” the court stated in its order dated May 22, which was uploaded on Saturday. The bench also strongly criticised the existing WFI policy, saying it lacked flexibility for athletes like Phogat who had taken time away from the sport due to maternity leave. “The policy and the circular are clearly exclusionary in nature as it does not give any discretion to Respondent No.1 (WFI) to consider iconic players like the appellant in view of the sabbatical taken on account of her maternity leave,” the court observed. The judges further noted that the reasons mentioned in the show-cause notice issued to Phogat appeared to be “pre-mediated” and amounted to reopening matters that had already been settled. Stressing the importance of fairness, the court remarked that allowing her participation was necessary “in the interest of the sport and justice”. The order came after Phogat challenged a May 18 decision by a single-judge bench, which had earlier denied her immediate interim relief regarding participation in the trials. Phogat, one of India’s most decorated wrestlers, last made headlines during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where she was heartbreakingly disqualified from the women’s 50kg freestyle final after being found 100 grams overweight during the morning weigh-in ahead of the gold medal bout.
