WFI challenges Delhi HC order permitting Vinesh Phogat to compete in Asian Games trials

The legal battle between Vinesh Phogat and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has intensified after the federation moved the Supreme Court challenging a Delhi High Court order that allowed her to take part in the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games.

The matter is scheduled to be heard on Friday by a bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe. The WFI’s appeal comes shortly after the Delhi High Court, in its May 22 ruling, permitted Phogat to compete in the trials, observing that the federation’s revised selection rules appeared restrictive and did not adequately consider athletes returning to competition after maternity leave.

The High Court had also directed that the trials, set for May 30 and 31, be video-recorded to ensure transparency. It further instructed that representatives from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) be present as independent observers during the process.

Earlier, the WFI—headed by Sanjay Singh—had declared Phogat ineligible after updating its selection criteria to restrict participation to reigning national champions from the previous season. The decision came as Phogat was preparing for a competitive comeback following her maternity break.

The Delhi High Court criticised the federation’s stance, terming the policy “exclusionary” and holding that it disproportionately affected athletes who had taken maternity breaks. The court underscored that motherhood cannot be used as a ground to deny equal opportunity in sport.

It also noted that the physical and personal challenges faced by women athletes during pregnancy and post-partum recovery are significant and often insufficiently accounted for in institutional selection frameworks.

The bench further questioned the central government and Sports Ministry for not intervening in the matter. It also flagged a WFI notice to Phogat that reportedly described her earlier Olympic disqualification in harsh terms, stating that such language reflected undue bias.

The verdict had offered relief to Phogat, who has been at the centre of Indian wrestling’s administrative disputes in recent years, including protests against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and subsequent eligibility controversies.

With the federation now approaching the Supreme Court, the issue remains unresolved ahead of the upcoming Asian Games trials.