Delhi HC Refuses Immediate Relief To Vinesh Phogat Over Asian Games Trials

The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant immediate relief to wrestler Vinesh Phogat in her plea seeking permission to participate in the May 30–31 selection trials for this year’s Asian Games , after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) declared her ineligible.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, however, allowed Phogat to submit a comprehensive reply to the show-cause notice issued by the WFI over allegations of indiscipline and anti-doping rule violations. The court directed the federation to conclude the proceedings on the notice by July 6 and place its decision on record before the court.

Issuing notice to the WFI and the Centre on Phogat’s petition, the court observed that a balance had to be maintained between the “competing interests” involved in the matter.

Appearing for Phogat, senior counsel argued that the wrestler should be allowed to participate in the trials, especially as international sporting regulations generally protect the ranking and status of female athletes returning after maternity leave. The counsel contended that the latest WFI policy unfairly excluded her despite her achievements and experience.

The court, however, declined to pass any interim order permitting her participation without first hearing the federation’s response.“You have already been declared ineligible. How can we grant you that relief without hearing the other side?” the judge orally remarked, while noting that the WFI policy would require closer examination.

Phogat’s counsel further alleged that “there is something more than what meets the eye” in the matter, pointing out that the show-cause notice was issued on May 9, just a day before she was barred from competing in the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda on May 10–11.

The court subsequently granted two weeks to the respondents to file their replies and listed the matter for hearing on July 6.The WFI had earlier declared Phogat ineligible to participate in domestic competitions till June 26, 2026, citing the mandatory six-month notice period applicable to athletes returning from retirement under anti-doping regulations.

Despite the restriction, Phogat had appeared at the Gonda tournament venue in defiance of the federation’s order.Phogat, one of India’s most prominent wrestlers, was also among the leading faces of the 2023 wrestlers’ protest against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment.

In August 2024, she was disqualified from the women’s 50kg final at the Paris 2024 Olympics after being found 100 grams overweight during the morning weigh-in.