New Delhi: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has received a significant legal victory ahead of the Asian Games selection trials, following a ruling by the Delhi High Court that permits her to participate in the upcoming competitions scheduled for May 30 and May 31, 2026.
The decision was made by a division bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, who scrutinized the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) selection framework. The court raised serious concerns regarding the treatment of returning athletes under current regulations, particularly recognizing that existing policies did not adequately consider competitors resuming their careers after maternity leave.
In the court’s May 22 order, it stated, “The appellant shall be permitted to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games, 2026.” This ruling was made public over the weekend.
In addition to granting permission for participation, the court directed the WFI to ensure that a video recording of the entire trial process is maintained. Independent observers from the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Olympic Association will be present during the trials to supervise the proceedings.
During the hearing, the bench expressed sharp criticism of the federation’s policy, characterizing it as restrictive towards elite athletes returning from maternity breaks. “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 judges noted.
The bench also questioned the reasoning behind the show-cause notice issued to Phogat, suggesting that it appeared to be predetermined. Furthermore, they indicated that the notice sought to revisit issues that had previously been settled.
This ruling comes after a setback Phogat experienced when a single-judge bench denied her request for interim relief on May 18. Her subsequent appeal to the division bench resulted in this favorable intervention.
