Vinesh Phogat case: Delhi HC to examine how mothers can balance sports career

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has indicated that it will examine and decide the broader issue of how motherhood and motherhood should be balanced with the demands of a sports career. The question arose during the hearing of a petition by wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who became a mother in July 2025 and returned from maternity leave to participate in the women’s selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Championships.In a preliminary order, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma refused to allow the grappler to participate in the election processes scheduled to be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on September 14. The court felt that the eligibility criteria applicable to all athletes should not be relaxed in favor of Phogat alone, especially when such a relaxation may have consequences for other similarly situated athletes not before them.“This court is also mindful that the choice to represent a country in an international championship involves considerations beyond the individual requirements of any particular athlete,” the HC observed.But he also added that the court was “aware that the wider question of how motherhood and motherhood should be balanced with the demands of a sporting career and whether an athlete should be required to choose between motherhood and the continuation of their career deserves careful consideration. However, this issue has yet to be definitively explored and assessed in these proceedings.”