Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has approached the Delhi High Court seeking relief against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) after being excluded from the national wrestling selection process.
The High Court on Monday said it would examine the WFI’s selection and eligibility policy before passing any order on Phogat’s plea regarding her return to competitive wrestling.
Vinesh had moved the court after she was reportedly prevented from participating in the National Open Ranking tournament in Gonda earlier this month. The federation had asked her to first respond to a show-cause notice issued against her before being considered for selection events.
During the hearing, the court asked the former World Championships medallist to submit a detailed reply to the notice issued by the federation. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav also directed the WFI to complete proceedings related to the show-cause notice and place its decision before the court by July 6.
Phogat has argued that she remains eligible to compete under International Testing Agency (ITA) rules despite the WFI declaring her ineligible under its domestic regulations. The federation has maintained that she must comply with the mandatory notice period linked to athletes returning from retirement.
The case has added another chapter to the prolonged conflict between Vinesh and the Wrestling Federation of India, which dates back to the wrestlers’ protest movement against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in 2023.
The court’s final decision could have a major impact on Phogat’s hopes of participating in upcoming international selection trials, including those linked to the Asian Games and other major tournaments.
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