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The Delhi High Court on Friday strongly criticised the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for declaring acclaimed wrestler Vinesh Phogat “ineligible” for domestic tournaments and directed the Central Government to constitute an expert committee to assess her fitness.
The bench observed that the WFI’s decision to deviate from its traditional policy of allowing elite athletes to compete “speaks volumes.” The court directed the Centre to guarantee that Phogat, who is planning a competitive comeback following a maternity break, is allowed to participate in upcoming selection trials for the Asian Games.
The bench emphasised that motherhood is widely celebrated across the nation and warned that the sports federation must not act out of “vengeance.”
“Have the experts evaluate her prospects. Ensure her participation,” the bench orally observed. The court added that it would reconvene later in the afternoon to allow government counsel to present details regarding the formation of the expert panel.
The bench heard an appeal filed by Phogat against a single-judge order dated May 18, ruling, which had denied her immediate interim relief regarding participation in the Asian Games selection trials scheduled for May 30–31.
Phogat`s senior counsel urged the court to grant her permission to compete, arguing that a show-cause notice issued to her on May 9, just a day before a domestic tournament in Gonda, showed that authorities were “clutching at straws” to keep her out of competition
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“She became a mother in July 2025, and we are now in May. She is an internationally renowned wrestler. Why shouldn`t we presume that you modified the selection criteria just for her? Regardless of any ongoing feuds or disputes, why should the sports ecosystem suffer? Motherhood is celebrated in this country; should it really penalise an athlete?” the bench remarked.
The history between WFI and Phogat
The WFI had earlier barred Phogat from domestic competitions until June 26, 2026, pointing to a mandatory six-month notification period required for athletes returning from retirement under anti-doping regulations. Despite the ruling, Vinesh travelled to Gonda to attend the National Open Ranking Tournament.
Phogat was previously a prominent figure in the 2023 wrestlers` protest against the alleged sexual harassment involving the WFI`s former president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Later, in August 2024, she faced a heartbreaking disqualification from the 50kg gold medal bout at the Paris Olympics after missing the morning weigh-in by a mere 100 grams.
(With PTI inputs)
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