Delhi HC denies Vinesh Phogat entry to World Cup trials: ‘Unwilling to grant interim exemption’

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to allow wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the women’s selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Championships, rejecting her plea for an interim exemption from the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).In a late night preliminary order, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said that at this stage the court was not inclined to grant an interim exemption from the eligibility criteria to allow Phogat to participate in the September 14 selections.“To reiterate, the criteria prescribed by the September 7, 2026 circular apply uniformly to all sportspersons. An athlete who for whatever reason did not participate in the prescribed competitions would not fall within the eligibility categories specified by respondent no.1 (WFI),” the court said.The Supreme Court issued the order while rejecting an application by Phogat, who has returned from maternity leave, to seek permission to participate in the women’s selection process for the 2026 Senior World Cup.The court referred to Phogat’s maternal situationThe court said Phogat’s circumstances relating to pregnancy, childbirth and post-natal recovery would need to be considered when examining the validity of the policy. However, this does not in itself entitle her at the interim stage to be allowed to participate in contravention of the eligibility criteria, he added.“Granting such preliminary protection to the petitioner alone, without first deciding the policy itself, may subsequently result in unequal treatment of similarly situated athletes who are not before this court,” he said.The court added that without commenting on the validity of the circular or the merits of the ongoing disciplinary proceedings, it was not inclined to grant a preliminary injunction.

Phogat calls on September 7 WFI Circular

Phogat, in her application filed in the pending petition, also sought a stay on the September 7 circular issued by the WFI, which prescribed the eligibility criteria for the tenders scheduled for September 14 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium here.The new request was made in the main petition in which Phogat sought to formulate a fair and structured framework for female athletes returning to competitive sport after pregnancy and maternity leave.In the application, she sought a stay on the circular as it precludes her from participating in the selection trials for the championship, which is scheduled to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1.The WFI Circular provides women’s trials in six Olympic weight categories. Phogat argued that the latest selection framework creates a closed pathway by making eligibility dependent on participation and performance in specific qualifying competitions.The plea stated that the circular places Phogat in a position from which she is excluded not because she was assessed and found lacking in sporting merit, but because she could not participate in specific competitions selected by the WFI as a gateway to the current selection exams.

The court sought a response from WFI, Center

She said the framework contained no mechanism to account for an athlete who was unable to participate in prescribed competitions for reasons related to maternity.On September 1, the high court sought a response from the WFI and the Center to Phogat’s plea seeking to formulate a fair and structured framework for female athletes returning to competitive sports after pregnancy and maternity leave.The petition sought directions for the formulation of a fair and structured framework for female athletes returning from maternity leave, transparent and objectively verifiable selection and nomination processes, and an alternative mechanism for athletes disadvantaged by maternity leave.Phogat, who became a mother in July 2025, said that after resuming her wrestling career after giving birth, she was forced to re-enter the competitive circuit without any adjustments during the time she was unable to compete due to maternity.The wrestler also filed another petition seeking the cancellation of the two show cause notices issued to her by the WFI and the disciplinary proceedings initiated against her.WFI’s lawyer said they held hearings twice but “there was no show”; a final opportunity was given and the hearing was on September 2.In the lawsuit, Phogat said the two notices issued to her on May 9 and June 17 were part of a continuing pattern of arbitrary and mala fide actions by the WFI that prevented her from returning to competitive wrestling after maternity leave.