New Delhi, September 2026 : The Delhi High Court has declined to grant immediate relief to three-time Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who had sought permission to participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships in Kazakhstan.
A single-judge Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Thursday refused to exempt Phogat, on an interim basis, from the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for the selection trials. The court observed that the criteria applied uniformly to all athletes and could not be relaxed in favour of one athlete without considering its implications for others.
Phogat had approached the High Court seeking directions to the WFI to provisionally include her in the eligibility pool and allow her to compete in the women's selection trials scheduled for September 14 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi.
The court, however, said that although Phogat's absence from competition due to pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum recovery would be relevant while examining the validity and application of the WFI's selection framework, the circumstances did not justify granting her an interim exemption.
Justice Sharma observed that the WFI's September 7 circular laying down eligibility conditions for the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships was not framed specifically against Phogat. The criteria were applicable to all athletes seeking to participate in the trials.
The court cautioned that granting Phogat a special exemption could result in similar demands from other athletes who may have grievances against the policy but were not parties before the court.
“Permitting the petitioner to participate by granting her a special dispensation, therefore, would not only be unfair to other athletes across the country who may have a similar grievance against the policy but are not before this Court, but would also have the effect of opening a Pandora's box,” the court said.
It further held that such relief could not be granted without first examining the validity of the selection policy itself.
Representing Phogat, senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao argued that the eligibility framework created an exclusionary system by linking participation to specified qualifying competitions. He submitted that the policy did not provide an appropriate mechanism for athletes returning to competitive sport following pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum recovery.
The High Court acknowledged the broader issue but said it would require detailed examination during the final adjudication of Phogat's main petition.
“The broader question as to whether a selection policy ought to provide an appropriate mechanism for athletes returning to competitive sport after pregnancy and childbirth, and whether the absence of such a mechanism renders the policy arbitrary or discriminatory, would also require detailed consideration at the stage of final adjudication of the writ petition,” Justice Sharma observed.
Phogat had remained away from active competition during 2024-25 because of pregnancy, childbirth and subsequent recovery. The judgment noted that the International Testing Agency, acting on behalf of United World Wrestling, had confirmed in July 2025 that she would be eligible to compete from January 1, 2026.
The wrestler had previously challenged her exclusion from the Asian Games selection process before the Delhi High Court. A Division Bench comprising then Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia had allowed her to participate in the Asian Games Selection Trials on May 30.
The Division Bench had observed prima facie that motherhood should not prejudice a woman in her sporting career.
Phogat subsequently competed in the 53 kg category at the trials and reached the semi-final stage, but was ultimately not selected for the Asian Games.
The present Bench, however, clarified that the earlier interim relief was granted in the specific context of the then-existing Asian Games Selection Policy and the first show-cause notice issued against Phogat. It said that order could not be interpreted as providing her with a general or continuing exemption from eligibility requirements in future competitions.
The court also took note of a second show-cause notice issued by the WFI on June 17 concerning alleged misconduct during the same selection trials in which Phogat had been permitted to participate.
Justice Sharma said the court was not expressing any final opinion on the validity of the September 7 circular or the merits of the pending disciplinary proceedings.
“Without expressing any final opinion on the validity of the Circular dated 07.09.2026 or on the merits of the pending disciplinary proceedings, this Court is not inclined to grant the interim relief sought by the petitioner at this stage,” the judge said while dismissing Phogat's application.
The main writ petition challenges the WFI's selection and disciplinary framework and seeks a fair, transparent and structured mechanism for women athletes returning to competitive sport after pregnancy and childbirth.
The petition is scheduled to come up for further hearing on September 29.
