The Delhi High Court Friday came down heavily on the Centre and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), taking serious objection to the latter terming Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s 2024 Paris Olympics loss as “national shame”. It said it “will pass orders” on Phogat’s request to be allowed to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026, scheduled on May 30-31.
This comes after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) refused to relent on Phogat’s participation despite the court inquiring orally multiple times. The court orally remarked that “we will not leave anything to you now”.
Phogat, in an appeal, challenged two circulars of the WFI, which laid out eligibility criteria for participating in the Asian Games selection trials. In a departure from previous years, the criteria made medal wins in 2025 or 2026 mandatory to be eligible to even participate in the selection trials. This means that Phogat, who had been on a break since December 2024 — which included a maternity break — is excluded from participation.
Phogat also challenged a showcause notice sent by the WFI on May 9, accusing her of indiscipline, violations of anti-doping regulations, and breaches of United World Wrestling (UWW) rules. It also accused her of failing to make weight at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, “resulting in disqualification and national embarrassment”. It even barred her from participating in any WFI events until June 26, despite the world federation holding Phogat eligible for participation from January 1 this year.
On Friday, the division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia strongly objected to the WFI terming her 2024 Olympic final loss, where she failed to make weight by 100 grams in the 50 kg category, as a “national shame”.
CJ Upadhyaya said, “The mishap that happened with this lady, was it a national shame?… She reached the finals and was disqualified for being overweight by how many grams?… Can you describe it as a national shame? One of the reasons indicated in the showcause notice is national shame?… That’s how you’re serving the cause of wrestling in the country?… She became a mother only in July 2025, and motherhood in this country is celebrated. It is not to be looked upon like this. Everything is clear. What are her credentials, how many medals has she won?… Don’t act in vengeance.”
The court also pulled up the Centre on its inaction against sports administrators and for “sitting silent” on the WFI’s “retrograde” eligibility criteria that excluded wrestlers of repute from participating in selection trials.
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Meanwhile, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports told the court that it “cannot step into the shoes of the WFI because then I risk some international repercussions”. It said WFI has set its eligibility criteria for participation in the selection trials, not the Centre.
The Centre, however, added that if the WFI decides to make an exception to allow Phogat’s participation, either by modifying its criteria or taking a decision to include her participation, it will “fully support them” under the Ministry’s supervision.
“The Ministry will appoint an observer, a senior official from the Sports Authority of India (SAI)… we will also request an independent observer from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and ensure that all selection proceedings are video-recorded… There is no bar on WFI to amend its criteria (to ensure Phogat’s inclusion),” the Sports Ministry’s counsel contended.
Noting the “fair stance” taken by Centre, the bench posed a question to the WFI: Are you going to allow her to participate in the trial or not?
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“If you allow, the trial will be supervised by the Centre, you will have your technical observers, they will also appoint an independent observer as will IOA… and the selection trial will be videographed… Are you going to allow her or not?… We would request you to kindly allow her to participate in the selection trials,” it said.
However, the WFI requested time to get back with instructions on Monday. It added, “In the meantime, if (Phogat) can send us a representation, that… an exemption should be granted to her to participate in selection trials?”
The court then orally told the WFI’s counsel, “We are only requesting you to convince your client (WFI), let her participate in the trials to be held on May 30… Depending on the outcome of the trial, exemption shall be ensured by the Centre. That will be in the best interest of the sport.”
The court also pointed out, “The world federation says she can participate from January 1, 2026. You are denying her participation.”
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When the WFI’s counsel once again requested time to seek instruction and a representation from Phogat, the court reserved the matter for orders. “We will not leave anything to you now. We will pass orders. Go and challenge it,” the court orally remarked.
The IOA also told the court that it is “distancing itself from the (showcause notice)”. It said Phogat is a star athlete, and the association supports her.
