Delhi High Court Denies Immediate Relief to Vinesh Phogat Over Asian Games Trial Exclusion

New Delhi, May 2026 : The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant immediate relief to three-time Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who had sought permission to participate in the Asian Games selection trials scheduled for May 30–31.

Phogat has moved the court challenging her exclusion by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), arguing that she should be allowed to compete in the selection trials while her plea against the federation’s revised eligibility norms is being heard.

The matter came up before a single-judge Bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, where senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, appearing for Phogat, contended that “there was something more than meets the eye” in the federation’s decision and urged the court to allow her provisional participation in the trials.

However, the court declined to pass any interim order without first hearing the WFI’s response in detail. The judge observed that granting such relief at this stage could complicate the process if the final outcome went against the wrestler.

“Unnecessarily, there is no point in allowing you to participate and then telling you that it was a nullity,” the court orally remarked while refusing immediate intervention.

The Delhi High Court has now scheduled the matter for further hearing on July 6, after the summer vacation.

It also permitted Phogat to file a detailed response to the show-cause notice issued by the WFI and directed the federation to conclude its disciplinary proceedings before the next hearing date. The court further instructed that any final decision taken by the federation must be submitted on record.

The dispute stems from a 15-page show-cause notice issued by the WFI earlier this month, which accused Phogat of “grave acts of indiscipline” and alleged violations of anti-doping rules and international wrestling regulations. The federation has also barred her from participating in any sanctioned competitions until June 26.

The WFI’s action follows concerns linked to incidents ranging from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to alleged anti-doping compliance issues.

Adding to the controversy, the federation recently revised eligibility criteria for the Asian Games selection trials, restricting participation only to medal winners from specified national-level tournaments conducted in 2025 and 2026. This change effectively excluded Phogat, who has not competed in professional events since the Paris Olympics 2024.

Phogat’s legal challenge argues that the revised criteria are arbitrary and unfairly disqualify her from contention despite her international experience and past achievements.

The case has now set up a legal and administrative standoff between one of India’s most prominent wrestlers and the country’s wrestling governing body, with the final decision likely to have wider implications for selection policies in the sport.

For now, however, the court has made it clear that no interim relaxation will be granted until both sides are fully heard.

Team Maverick.