WFI moves Delhi HC against order allowing Vinesh Phogat to compete in Asian Games trials

The dispute between Vinesh Phogat and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has escalated further.

After the federation approached the Supreme Court challenging a Delhi High Court order that allowed her to take part in the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games.

A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe is scheduled to hear the WFI’s plea on Friday. The appeal comes days after a division bench of the Delhi High Court, on May 22, permitted Phogat to compete in the upcoming trials, observing that the federation’s revised selection criteria appeared exclusionary and failed to account for athletes returning from maternity leave.

The High Court had also directed that the trials, scheduled for May 30 and 31, be video-recorded. It further ordered the presence of independent observers from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to ensure transparency in the selection process.

The WFI, led by Sanjay Singh, had earlier declared Phogat ineligible after changing its selection policy to allow only reigning national champions from the previous season to participate. The decision came as Phogat was preparing for her return to competitive wrestling following her maternity break.

In its strong observations, the Delhi High Court had criticised the federation’s approach, describing the policy as “exclusionary” and noting that it effectively disadvantaged athletes who had taken maternity breaks. The court also emphasised that motherhood cannot be used as a basis to sideline women in sport.

The bench observed that the physical and personal challenges faced by female athletes during pregnancy and post-partum recovery are often not adequately recognised within sporting institutions, and must be fairly accommodated in selection frameworks.

The court also questioned the Sports Ministry and central authorities for not intervening in the matter despite its implications for fairness in sport. It further took exception to a WFI show-cause notice that allegedly referred to Phogat’s earlier Olympic disqualification in harsh terms, saying such remarks reflected a lack of restraint and fairness.

The ruling had provided relief to Phogat, who has been at the centre of Indian wrestling’s administrative and political turmoil in recent years, including her role in protests against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and subsequent disputes over her competitive eligibility.

With the WFI now moving the Supreme Court, the legal battle continues ahead of the Asian Games trials scheduled later this week.