Delhi High Court Criticizes Wrestling Federation Over Vinesh Phogat's Exclusion from Trials
Court's Strong Stance on WFI's Treatment of Phogat
On Friday, the Delhi High Court expressed strong disapproval of the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) decision to exclude wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Asian Games selection trials. The court emphasized that India should honor motherhood rather than penalize female athletes for pregnancy and childbirth.
The judges also challenged the WFI's characterization of Phogat's disqualification from the Paris Olympics as a 'national embarrassment,' suggesting that the federation was shifting blame onto the athlete instead of addressing the accountability of sports officials.
During the hearing of Phogat's appeal, a Division Bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia scrutinized the WFI's actions, noting that the nation had rallied behind Phogat following her Olympic disappointment rather than viewing it as a disgrace.
The court questioned how the federation could label the incident a national disgrace when public support for Phogat remained strong. It pointed out that the WFI seemed more focused on targeting the athlete rather than identifying systemic failures.
Concerns were raised regarding the recent changes to the federation's eligibility policy for the Asian Games trials. The new criteria, introduced earlier this year, limited participation to medalists from specific tournaments held in 2025 and 2026. Phogat contended that these revised rules effectively barred her from competing due to their overlap with her pregnancy and recovery period.
Senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, representing Phogat, informed the court that she would be eligible to compete starting January 2026, and her registration for events had been accepted before she was unexpectedly halted. He argued that the federation's actions appeared arbitrary and desperate, prompting the court to question whether the rules had been modified specifically to hinder Phogat's return.
Highlighting Phogat's motherhood since July of the previous year, the judges reiterated that India should celebrate motherhood rather than impose penalties on female athletes. They acknowledged Phogat's international achievements and questioned why the policy change should not be seen as targeting her.
The judges also criticized the Centre for its silence regarding the federation's actions. They inquired whether the Sports Ministry had sanctioned such notices and labeled the developments as a 'retrograde step.'
Counsel for the Union Government revealed that the Centre was taken aback by the contents of the show-cause notice issued to Phogat.
The court then called for an urgent resolution, urging the authorities to form a panel of experts to evaluate Phogat's readiness to compete in the trials.
Stating that the issue was merely about participating in a sporting trial rather than a constitutional appointment, the court found no justification for denying her the opportunity.
Later, the Centre assured the court that Phogat had not been barred from competing and was prepared to invoke an exemption clause if she successfully cleared the trials. The government also promised that an observer from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) would monitor the process and that the trials would be recorded on video.
While the WFI requested an extension until May 25 and asked Phogat to submit a representation for exemption, the Division Bench declined to postpone the matter and indicated that it would issue orders.