Delhi HC slams WFI for denying Vinesh Phogat a chance to participate in the Asian Games trials
The Delhi High Court on Friday questioned the Wrestling Federation of India’s decision to deny Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat an opportunity to participate in the
The Delhi High Court on Friday questioned the Wrestling Federation of India’s decision to deny Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat an opportunity to participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games, and slammed the federation for describing her 2024 Paris Olympics disqualification as a “national shame”. A Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said they would pass orders on Ms. Phogat’s plea seeking permission to participate in the selection trials scheduled for May 30 and 31. Effective exclusion Phogat has challenged the WFI’s circular prescribing eligibility criteria for participation in the Asian Games selection trials.
Under the revised policy, only wrestlers who secured medals in competitions held in 2025 or 2026 are eligible to participate in the trials. The wrestler contended that the criteria effectively excluded her as she had been away from competition since December 2024, especially since she gave birth to a child in July 2025. ‘ shame’ She also challenged a showcause notice issued by the WFI on May 9 which referred to her disqualification from the women’s 50 kg final at the 2024 Paris Olympics as a “national embarrassment”. Taking strong exception to the language used in the notice, the Bench questioned the federation’s conduct.
“Was it a national shame? She was in the finals. How did the people of the country look at the event? Would you describe it as a national shame? Is that how you are serving the cause of wrestling in the country? What was the mood of the country at that time?” the court asked. ‘Not in the best interest of sports’ “She became a mother in July 2025. We are in May. She is a wrestler of international repute. Why can’t it be presumed that you changed [the selection criteria] for her. Whatever may be the feud or dispute, why should the cause of sports suffer?
Motherhood is celebrated in the country, should it come to the detriment of a person?” the court said in its oral remarks. “The change in circular says it all. Don’t conduct yourself like this. This is not in the best interest of sports. Deviation from the earlier circular speaks volumes,” it added. Phogat had announced her retirement after being disqualified from the women’s 50 kg final at the 2024 Paris Olympics for failing the weigh-in by 100 grams despite qualifying for the gold medal bout.
The BriefWire