In a major setback for star grappler Vinesh Phogat, the Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant her immediate relief to compete in the upcoming selection trials for the Asian Games. Phogat had approached the court seeking permission to participate in the trials scheduled for May 30–31, following a ruling by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) that declared her ineligible.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav declined to issue an interim order, emphasizing that the court could not grant such relief “without hearing the other side.” However, the court has permitted Phogat to submit a “comprehensive reply” to the WFI regarding a show cause notice served to her over allegations of indiscipline and anti-doping rule violations.
The court has issued notices to both the WFI and the Central Government, demanding their replies within two weeks.
Balancing National Interest and Athlete Welfare
During the hearing, Justice Kaurav stressed the necessity of maintaining a balance between “competing interests” in the high-profile case.
Phogat’s senior counsel argued strongly for her inclusion in the May 30–31 selection trials, highlighting that international sports standards protect the rankings and status of female athletes on maternity leave. The counsel argued that the WFI’s latest policy unfairly excludes her despite these protections.
“You have already been declared ineligible. How can we grant you that relief without hearing the other side,” Justice Kaurav remarked orally during the proceedings. “The (WFI) policy will have to be looked into. There are competing interests. Yes, we appreciate [that you were on a maternity break], but at the same time, national interest is there. Therefore, let them file a reply.”
The court has directed the WFI to take the show cause notice to its “logical conclusion” by July 6, the date of the next scheduled hearing, and to place its final decision on the record.
‘Something More Than Meets the Eye’
The legal battle comes amid escalating tensions between Phogat and the wrestling body. The WFI previously declared Phogat ineligible to compete in domestic events until June 26, 2026, citing a mandatory six-month notice period required for athletes returning from retirement under anti-doping regulations.
Phogat’s legal team raised serious questions about the timing of the federation’s actions. The show cause notice was issued on May 9—just one day before a domestic competition in Gonda scheduled for May 10–11—which ultimately barred her from competing.
“The show cause notice is issued to me on May 9. You raise issues of the Paris Olympics 2024. There is something more than what meets the eye,” Phogat’s counsel argued in court, pushing for her right to file a detailed response.
Despite the WFI’s restrictions, a defiant Phogat had previously shown up at the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda.
A Turbulent Career in the Spotlight
This legal hurdle is the latest chapter in a turbulent couple of years for Phogat. She was one of the prominent faces of the intense 2023 protests led by women wrestlers against alleged sexual harassment by the WFI’s former president, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.
More recently, Phogat faced heartbreak at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she was disqualified from the 50kg gold medal bout after weighing in at 100 grams over the limit on the morning of the finals.
With the next court hearing set for July 6, Phogat’s immediate competitive future rests on how quickly she and the WFI resolve the dispute surrounding her eligibility and the pending show cause notice.
