Delhi High Court Ruling Allows Vinesh Phogat in Asian Games Trials

The Delhi High Court has granted wrestler Vinesh Phogat permission to participate in the selection trials for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games. The trials are set to take place on May 30 and 31. The Court expressed disapproval of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for what it termed as 'vindictive' conduct toward the athlete.

A Bench, comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, ordered that the selection trials be recorded on video. It also mandated the appointment of two independent observers from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to supervise the process.

In its ruling delivered on May 22 and made public on May 23, the Court remarked that motherhood is 'celebrated' not just in India but worldwide. It asserted that any legal framework that disadvantages women based on pregnancy or post-partum recovery would breach the constitutional guarantees of equality and non-discrimination provided for in Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Vinesh Phogat previously contested a WFI circular that outlined eligibility criteria for athletes aiming to join the Asian Games selection trials. The updated policy stipulated that only wrestlers who had earned medals in events held in either 2025 or 2026 could take part. Phogat argued that this criterion effectively excluded her, given her absence from competitions since December 2024 due to maternity leave after giving birth in July 2025.

Additionally, she 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'. The Court highlighted that Phogat's exclusion was linked directly to her sabbatical and temporary retirement during her maternity period, which barred her from competing in qualifying events under the WFI's existing policies.

The Bench condemned the WFI's characterisation of Phogat's Olympic exit as a 'national embarrassment', especially considering that the Court of Arbitration for Sport had found no fault on her part. The remarks were described as 'premeditated' and indicative of a malignant intent towards the wrestler.

Moreover, the Court noted that the WFI's current policy and circulars are 'exclusionary' and fail to consider the unique circumstances of prominent athletes who had taken maternity-related sabbaticals. The ruling has positioned Vinesh Phogat back in contention for the Asian Games, asserting her right to participate in the trials despite the WFI's prior attempts to sideline her due to her maternity leave.