The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant immediate relief to wrestler Vinesh Phogat in her legal challenge against exclusion from the Asian Games selection trials by Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), observing that permitting her to participate pending adjudication could create an irreversible situation if her plea ultimately fails.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav made it clear that the court was not inclined to pass an interim order allowing Phogat to compete in the trials scheduled for May 30 while her challenge to WFI’s revised selection policy remains undecided.
The court orally observed that permitting participation at this stage, only to later hold such participation legally unsustainable, would serve no purpose and may complicate the selection process.
Senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, appearing for Phogat, argued that the circumstances surrounding the wrestler’s exclusion raised serious concerns and warranted judicial intervention. He urged the court to permit Phogat to participate in the trials subject to the outcome of the main petition.
Rao submitted that Phogat had resumed wrestling after maternity leave and contended that WFI’s eligibility conditions were inconsistent with international sporting norms, which recognise protections and exemptions for athletes returning after childbirth.
He further argued that the federation’s actions reflected procedural unfairness, pointing out that the show-cause notice accusing Phogat of misconduct was issued barely hours before a sporting event. Rao also objected to the Federation invoking issues relating to the wrestler’s disqualification at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
During the hearing, the court acknowledged the concerns raised regarding maternity leave but observed that larger considerations concerning national sporting interests and team selection standards also required attention.
The bench indicated that the matter could not be conclusively heard before the commencement of the court vacation next month and fixed the case for further hearing on July 6.
Notice was issued on Phogat’s plea challenging WFI’s new selection policy and circular governing the Asian Games trials.
The court also permitted Phogat to place on record a comprehensive response to the show-cause notice issued by the federation and directed WFI to carry the disciplinary proceedings to their logical conclusion before the next date of hearing. Any final decision taken by the federation has also been directed to be placed before the court.
The dispute centres around WFI’s decision to restrict eligibility for the Asian Games trials to medal winners from the 2025 Senior National Championships, 2026 Federation Cup and Under-20 National Championships. Phogat did not participate in any of these competitions.
The wrestler had announced retirement after the 2024 Paris Olympics before returning to the sport in December 2025.
In its show-cause notice, WFI accused Phogat of indiscipline, alleged anti-doping violations and non-compliance with mandatory return-to-competition regulations applicable after retirement. The federation claimed that she failed to complete the six-month notice period prescribed under the United World Wrestling rules before attempting a comeback.
The notice also referred to Phogat’s disqualification at the Paris Olympics for being overweight and cited alleged failures linked to anti-doping “whereabouts” requirements.
Phogat has denied the allegations and maintained that both the World Anti-Doping Agency and International Testing Agency had cleared her to compete from January 2026 onwards. She has alleged before the court that the federation’s actions are arbitrary, targeted and intended to prematurely end her wrestling career.
Delhi HC denies interim relief to Vinesh Phogat; no Asian Games trials for now
