Delhi High Court Denies Vinesh Phogat's Request for Special Exemption in Wrestling Trials

Court's Decision on Vinesh Phogat's Participation

The Delhi High Court has declined to grant Olympian Vinesh Phogat a special exemption to compete in the selection trials for the Senior World Wrestling Championships. The court ruled that making an exception for one athlete could be unjust to others and might lead to broader implications.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed Phogat's request for interim relief, emphasizing that the court could not overlook the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) selection policy established on September 7 without first determining its legal validity.

The trials are set to commence on September 14, with the World Championships taking place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1.

Phogat's challenge centers on her absence from the qualifying events mandated by the WFI, which she attributes to her pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery period.

While the court recognized the need to consider her maternity-related circumstances in the broader context of the selection framework, it concluded that this was insufficient to allow her direct entry into the trials at this stage.

The court stated that until the legality of the policy is resolved, the eligibility criteria cannot be disregarded for any individual athlete. It noted that other competitors might be in similar situations but were not seeking exemptions.

Justice Sharma warned that granting Phogat a special exemption could lead to unequal treatment and encourage other athletes to request similar exceptions, potentially opening a 'Pandora’s box'.

The court ultimately denied interim relief without making a final judgment on the validity of the September 7 circular or the ongoing disciplinary proceedings against Phogat.

Despite expressing concerns during the hearing about how sports organizations handle female athletes returning from maternity leave, the court highlighted the importance of a fair and consistent selection process for athletes representing India.

The WFI's September 7 circular stipulates that eligibility is contingent upon participation in specific competitions scheduled for 2025 and 2026.

Phogat argued that her absence from these events was due to her maternity leave and that she was barred from competing in the Senior Open Ranking Tournament at Gonda after receiving a show-cause notice regarding her eligibility.

The High Court also reviewed Phogat's recent competitive performance. A previous ruling had allowed her to compete in the Asian Games selection trials in May, where she reached the semifinals but was not ultimately selected.

A pending show-cause notice regarding alleged misconduct during those trials remains unresolved.

Justice Sharma pointed out that the new eligibility criteria apply equally to all wrestlers and were not specifically designed to exclude Phogat.