Delhi HC slams WFI for denying Vinesh Phogat a chance to participate in the Asian Games trials

Key points

• 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...