Shock to WFI: Delhi High Court allows Vinesh Phogat to participate in Asian Games selection trials

New Delhi, 23 May. Amidst the ongoing tussle with Olympian female wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who is ready to return to the mat, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) got a blow when the Delhi High Court allowed Phogat to participate in the proposed selection trials next weekend for the Asian Games.

Court said – Indian Wrestling Federation’s selection policy is discriminatory

The High Court said that the selection policy of the Wrestling Federation of India is discriminatory as it has no right to consider the name of an eminent player like Vinesh, who has returned after maternity leave.

Asian Games selection trials to be held on May 30-31

Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia ordered that the selection trials to be held on May 30-31 will be videographed by the WFI and will also be attended by one independent observer each from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

“The Appellant is permitted to participate in the Asian Games 2026 Selection Trials, scheduled to be held on 30.05.2026 and 31.05.2026,” the court said in the order passed on May 22 and uploaded on its website on Saturday.

There is no point in questioning the player’s return after maternity leave.

The High Court said, ‘This policy and circular are clearly discriminatory as it does not give any right to the respondent number one (WFI) to consider the names of veteran players like the appellant, especially when she has taken a break from the game for some time due to maternity leave.’

The court said that the grounds given in the show cause notice appear to re-raise pre-conceived and closed issues, therefore, in the interest of sports and justice, it is necessary that the appellant be allowed to participate in the selection trials.

Vinesh had challenged the order of the single bench of the High Court

The court was hearing Phogat’s appeal challenging the May 18 order of a single judge bench which had refused to grant her immediate relief on the issue of her participation in the selection trials for this year’s Asian Games to be held on May 30-31 despite being declared ‘ineligible’ by the WFI.

It is noteworthy that internationally renowned wrestler Phogat was declared ineligible to compete in the finals of the 50 kg category due to being 100 grams overweight during the morning weigh-in during the Paris Olympic Games in August, 2024.