The Delhi High Court on Friday strongly questioned the decision of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to declare star wrestler Vinesh Phogat “ineligible” for domestic competitions. The court said it would soon pass an order on whether the Olympian can participate in the upcoming Asian Games selection trials.

A bench led by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said the federation appeared to be unfairly stopping Phogat from competing despite her international reputation and approval from the global wrestling body.

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Court Says Motherhood Should Not Become A Disadvantage

During the hearing, the court made strong remarks in support of Phogat, who is trying to return to wrestling after a maternity break.

The judges said motherhood is respected and celebrated in India, and no athlete should be punished for becoming a mother.

“She is a wrestler of international repute. Why should motherhood come to her detriment?” the bench orally observed.

The court also said WFI should not act with “vengeance” and added that an athlete’s focus should be on training and preparation, not fighting legal battles.

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Why WFI Declared Vinesh Phogat Ineligible

Earlier this month, WFI ruled that Phogat could not participate in domestic events until June 26, 2026. The federation cited anti-doping rules that require a mandatory six-month notice period for athletes returning after retirement.

However, Phogat challenged the decision in court and argued that the federation’s new selection policy unfairly affected her comeback after pregnancy and post-partum recovery.

According to her petition, the eligibility rules created a “closed and inflexible” system that indirectly blocked her from returning to competition.

Court Questions Sudden Change In Selection Rules

The Delhi High Court also raised concerns about the changes made to WFI’s selection policy for the Asian Games trials.

The judges noted that earlier, reputed wrestlers were often allowed to compete based on their past achievements. But the new policy limited participation only to medal winners from selected tournaments.

The bench remarked that the federation’s deviation from previous rules “speaks volumes.”

“Why can’t it be presumed that the criteria were changed for her?” the court asked.

The judges further said that personal disputes should never harm Indian sports or prevent talented athletes from competing.

Court Criticises WFI’s ‘National Shame’ Remark

The court also expressed anger over a show-cause notice issued to Phogat earlier this month.

In the notice, WFI reportedly described her disqualification from the 2024 Summer Olympics as a “national shame.”

The judges strongly disagreed with that statement.

“Was it a national shame? She reached the finals. Is this how you serve wrestling in the country?” the bench asked.

The court said the mood across the country during the Olympics was supportive of Phogat and questioned why the incident was mentioned in the notice at all.

Centre Suggests Special Relaxation For Vinesh Phogat

During the hearing, the Centre informed the court that the framework of the Sports Authority of India allows relaxation in eligibility criteria in special cases.

Government lawyers said if Phogat performs well in the selection trials, she could still become eligible for the Asian Games squad.

The Centre also suggested that the trials could take place under the supervision of WFI officials along with independent observers from the government and the Indian Olympic Association. The entire process could also be videographed for transparency.

Final Decision Expected Soon

WFI requested the court to hear the matter again on Monday and asked Phogat to submit a fresh representation before the federation.

However, the bench made it clear that it would pass an order soon on her participation in the Asian Games selection trials scheduled for May 30 and 31.

Vinesh Phogat’s Recent Journey

Phogat has remained one of India’s biggest wrestling stars in recent years. She was also among the wrestlers who protested in 2023 against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over alleged sexual harassment claims.

At the Paris Olympics in 2024, Phogat reached the final in the 50kg category but was later disqualified for being 100 grams overweight during the morning weigh-in.

Despite the setbacks, she recently returned to competition and even participated in the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda after challenging WFI’s decision.