In a major development for Indian sports, the Delhi High Court on Friday strongly admonished the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for declaring celebrated grappler Vinesh Phogat “ineligible” to compete in domestic events. Clearing a path for her return, the court directed the Central government to establish an expert panel to evaluate her fitness and ensure her participation in the upcoming Asian Games selection trials.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that the WFI’s sudden departure from its long-standing practice of allowing reputed athletes to compete “speaks volumes.” The bench ordered the Centre to guarantee that Phogat—who is launching a comeback after a maternity break—is permitted to take part in the crucial selection trials scheduled for May 30-31.
Emphasizing that maternity should never be treated as a professional setback, the court warned the federation against personal bias.
“Motherhood is celebrated in the country, and the federation should not act with ‘vengeance,'” the bench remarked during the oral proceedings.
A Battle Over Eligibility and “Vengeance”
The high-profile legal battle reached the division bench after Phogat appealed a May 18 ruling by a single-judge bench, which had declined to grant her immediate relief.
The WFI had previously barred Phogat from domestic competitions until June 26, 2026. The federation defended its decision by citing anti-doping regulations, which mandate a strict six-month notice period for athletes returning to active competition from retirement.
However, a defiant Phogat chose to challenge the restriction openly by showing up to compete at the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda.
During Friday’s hearing, Phogat’s senior counsel argued that the WFI’s actions were targeted, pointing to a show-cause notice served to her on May 9—exactly one day before her scheduled participation in the Gonda event. The counsel contended that the sudden administrative hurdle showed “somebody is clutching at straws” to keep the international star out of the ring.
Court Rebukes WFI Over “National Shame” Remarks
The High Court expressed deep displeasure over the language used by the WFI in its show-cause notice, which had characterized Phogat’s disqualification from the 50kg category finals at the Paris Olympics in August 2024 as a “national shame.” Phogat was disqualified from the final match after weighing in at 100 grams over the limit on the morning of the competition.
The bench fiercely questioned whether the federation had deliberately altered its selection criteria to target Phogat, pointing to her recent maternity leave.
“She became a mother in July 2025. We are in May. She is a wrestler of international repute. Why can’t it be presumed that you changed it [the selection criteria] for her?” the bench asked. “Whatever may be the feud or dispute, why should the cause of sports suffer? Motherhood is celebrated in the country, should it come to the detriment of a person?”
Directing its criticism at the WFI’s administrative shifts, the court added: “The change in circular says all. Don’t conduct yourself like this. This is not in the best interest of sports. Deviation from the earlier circular speaks volumes.”
Deep-Rooted Friction and the Path Forward
The escalating conflict between Phogat and the WFI operates against a backdrop of deep institutional friction. Phogat was one of the primary faces of the historic 2023 protests, where prominent women wrestlers took to the streets to demand action over allegations of sexual harassment against the WFI’s then-president, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.
To resolve the immediate deadlock and safeguard Phogat’s career, the High Court turned to the Centre. The government’s counsel submitted that the Sports Authority of India (SAI) possesses a framework that permits the relaxation of strict eligibility criteria under specific circumstances.
Seizing on this provision, the bench ordered the government to intervene immediately.
“Ask the experts to evaluate her chances… Ensure that she participates,” the court directed.
The division bench temporarily adjourned the matter, scheduling it to resume at 2:30 PM on Friday to allow the government counsel to return with concrete details regarding the constitution of the specialized expert team.
