Vinish Phogat Granted Relief by Delhi High Court to Participate in Asian Games Trials

New Delhi, May 23: Indian wrestler Vinish Phogat has received significant relief from the Delhi High Court. The court has granted her permission to participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games, which are set to begin on May 30.

The court stated that Vinish was unable to meet the necessary trial requirements solely because she was on maternity leave. It emphasized that a female athlete should not be sidelined from sports due to motherhood.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia, noted that female athletes often face various physical challenges during and after pregnancy, which sports organizations frequently overlook. The court asserted that these difficulties cannot be disregarded.

Additionally, the High Court reprimanded the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for sending Vinish a notice that criticized her for being overweight, labeling her exclusion from the Paris Olympics as a disgrace to the nation. The court deemed the language used in the notice as highly disrespectful towards a female athlete.

The High Court pointed out that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had already clarified that Vinish was not at fault. Despite this, the WFI sent a notice that suggested deliberate action against her. The court criticized the WFI’s attitude as being rooted in outdated thinking and malice.

It is noteworthy that Vinish was initially barred from participating in the trials because only those athletes who won medals in specific competitions in 2025 and 2026 were deemed eligible. Vinish did not compete in these events. She had announced her retirement after the 2024 Olympics but made a comeback to wrestling in December 2025. The federation accused her of disciplinary violations, breaching anti-doping rules, and failing to follow necessary procedures for her return. Vinish denied these allegations and initially approached the Delhi High Court for relief. After not receiving favorable results from a single bench, she escalated the matter to a division bench.