New Delhi, September 9 (Daily Kiran) : The Delhi High Court has directed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to clarify whether wrestler Vinesh Phogat can participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championship. The court has scheduled the next hearing for Thursday.
Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma, presiding over the single-judge bench, instructed the WFI’s lawyer to seek guidance on the matter. The court also asked for clarity regarding Phogat’s request to defer any final decisions related to the disciplinary actions initiated against her.
Phogat has filed a new petition in her pending case, demanding a fair and structured policy for female athletes returning to competitive sports after pregnancy and childbirth. The Delhi High Court had previously issued notices to the WFI, the central government, and the Indian Olympic Association concerning this petition and set a hearing date for November 18.
In her petition, Phogat challenges a circular issued by WFI on September 7, which set eligibility criteria for the selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championship. This championship is scheduled to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1. She seeks a stay on the part of the circular that excludes her from the selection process and requests that she be temporarily included in the eligibility pool, allowing her to participate in the women’s selection trials at Indira Gandhi Stadium on September 14.
Phogat argues that the new selection criteria create a ‘closed’ path, as eligibility now hinges on participation and performance in specific qualifying competitions. This system does not provide an alternative for athletes who are unable to compete due to pregnancy, childbirth, or recovery.
Her lawyer, Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao, stated that Phogat’s absence due to maternity should not disqualify her from participating in the selection process. “My maternity cannot be a barrier to my eligibility. I am not asking for a free pass,” Rao emphasized.
This recent petition is part of Phogat’s broader challenge to the WFI’s selection and disciplinary framework, advocating for a fair pathway for female athletes returning to competitive sports after maternity.
The controversy regarding Phogat’s eligibility first arose in connection with the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games. Under the WFI’s revised eligibility criteria, she was initially excluded from the trials held on May 30-31. Phogat contested this decision in the Delhi High Court, seeking permission to compete. The division bench, led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia, later allowed her to participate, stating that maternity should not be a basis for excluding a female athlete from professional opportunities.
The High Court also questioned the WFI’s revised eligibility criteria and ordered that the selection process be recorded under the supervision of an independent observer. The WFI has challenged this interim order in the Supreme Court.
While the Supreme Court allowed Phogat to take part in the selection trials, it expressed concern over some remarks made by the Delhi High Court during the interim phase.
Following the trials, the Supreme Court dismissed the WFI’s special leave petition, clarifying that its order should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the High Court’s comments against the federation, leaving all issues open for future consideration.
Consequently, Phogat was able to compete in the Asian Games selection trials based on the Delhi High Court’s interim order. However, her comeback attempt was disappointing; she lost in the semifinals of the women’s 53 kg category to Meenakshi Goyat, failing to qualify for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Additionally, hearings related to the disciplinary actions against Phogat remain pending in the Delhi High Court. On September 1, Justice Sharma sought instructions from the WFI regarding Phogat’s challenge to two show-cause notices issued on May 9 and June 17.
Phogat alleges that this action is part of arbitrary and malicious behavior that has hindered her return to competitive wrestling after maternity leave.
She further contends that the disciplinary proceedings were initiated after the International Testing Agency granted her permission to compete starting January 1, 2026.
Previously, the WFI issued a 15-page show-cause notice to the three-time Olympian on May 9, citing multiple allegations of misconduct, violations of anti-doping regulations, and breaches of international wrestling rules. The federation also declared her ineligible to participate in competitions recognized by WFI until June 26.
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