The Delhi High Court has declined to grant wrestler Vinesh Phogat interim permission to participate in the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) selection trials for the upcoming 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships. The court ruled that allowing her to compete without meeting the established eligibility criteria would constitute a special exception in her favour.

Justice Sharma dismissed Phogat’s application for provisional inclusion in the eligibility pool for the Women’s Selection Trials, which are scheduled to take place on September 14 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. The court clarified that its ruling did not reflect a final opinion on the validity of WFI’s eligibility circular issued on September 7 or the ongoing disciplinary proceedings involving Phogat.

Phogat’s Arguments and Court Response

Phogat contended that her absence from competitive wrestling, owing to her pregnancy and postpartum recovery, hindered her participation in several qualifying events. She noted that a show-cause notice from WFI had prevented her from competing in the Senior Open Ranking Tournament at Gonda shortly before the competition.

During the Asian Games Selection Trials on May 30, Phogat had participated in the 53 kg category and reached the semi-final. Despite this, she clarified that she was not seeking automatic selection but merely an opportunity to take part in the World Championship trials. However, the court rejected her argument, stating that participation is contingent upon adherence to the WFI’s eligibility criteria.

The court highlighted that the September 7 circular applied uniformly to all athletes and was not specifically directed at Phogat. It ruled that mere reasons for non-participation in prescribed events do not classify an athlete within the eligibility categories.

Implications of Pending Disciplinary Proceedings

The court acknowledged the existence of ongoing disciplinary actions against Phogat, particularly a second show-cause notice issued on June 17 regarding alleged misconduct during the Asian Games Selection Trials. Although the court did not comment on the merit of these allegations, it indicated that these proceedings were relevant in determining the interim relief for Phogat.

Justice Sharma noted that Phogat had been afforded multiple opportunities to present her case before the WFI’s Disciplinary Committee regarding both show-cause notices but had not utilised the initial three opportunities. Instead, she raised concerns about the Committee’s composition.

Additionally, the court declined to extend the previous relief granted by a Division Bench regarding her participation in the Asian Games trials. This earlier concession had been based on the specific context of the Asian Games Selection Policy and the initial show-cause notice. The court emphasised that this should not be construed as a continuous exemption for future competitions.

Concerns About Fair Competition

The court expressed concerns that granting interim relief to Phogat could lead to an unfair advantage, creating a precedent for exceptions that could burden other athletes who are not favourable to the court’s jurisdiction. Furthermore, this decision could prompt other athletes to seek similar exemptions.

Justice Sharma reiterated that selection for international championships must align with the larger national interest and be based on equitable, performance-driven processes. Thus, the eligibility criteria pertinent to all athletes cannot be relaxed for any individual athlete at this stage.

The court ultimately dismissed Phogat’s interim application, leaving the final validity of the WFI’s selection policy and the ongoing disciplinary proceedings unresolved. The main writ petition remains active, with arguments partially concluded. The matter is scheduled for a hearing on September 29, 2026.

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