Delhi High Court allows Vinesh Phogat to participate in Asian Games trials

The Delhi High Court has allowed wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026 scheduled to begin on May 30, while strongly criticising the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) over its actions against the athlete.

In its verdict delivered on May 22, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that Phogat was unable to fulfil the Wrestling Federation of India’s “exclusionary” selection policy because she was on maternity leave.

The Court stated that motherhood cannot become a reason for excluding or marginalising female athletes and acknowledged the physical challenges women undergo during pregnancy and post-partum recovery.

“It cannot be denied that the journey of a female athlete through pregnancy and the post-partum period is marked by extraordinary physical challenges,” the Bench observed, stressing that sporting institutions must recognise these realities.

The High Court also criticised the WFI for issuing a show-cause notice to Phogat over her disqualification from the Paris Olympics for being overweight. The notice had described the incident as a “national shame”.

Taking strong objection to the language used in the notice, the Court termed the remarks “retrograde” and “vindictive”. It observed that the comments appeared premeditated and ignored the findings of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which had held that there was no wrongdoing on Phogat’s part.

The Bench further questioned the Central government during the hearing over its alleged inaction against WFI officials for issuing such a notice.

The order came while hearing Phogat’s appeal against a single-judge decision that had earlier denied her relief.

With the ruling, Vinesh Phogat will now be eligible to participate in the upcoming Asian Games selection trials.