Delhi HC Seeks WFI Stand on Vinesh Phogat World Wrestling Championship Trials
Vinesh Phogat World Wrestling Championship Trials: Delhi HC Seeks WFI Response
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) stand on whether Vinesh Phogat World Wrestling Championship Trials participation can be permitted after the wrestler challenged her exclusion from the selection process.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed the WFI counsel to obtain instructions on Phogat’s request and listed the matter for further hearing on Thursday. The development comes after Phogat filed a fresh application in her pending case concerning a fair selection framework for women athletes returning to competitive sport after pregnancy and maternity leave.
Phogat is seeking permission to compete in the women’s selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships, which are scheduled to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1.
Vinesh Phogat World Wrestling Championship Trials: Why She Approached the Court
The latest legal challenge follows a September 7 WFI circular outlining eligibility criteria for the World Championships selection trials.
The women’s trials are scheduled for September 14 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi and will cover six Olympic weight categories. Phogat has argued that the eligibility framework effectively prevents her from entering the selection process because she did not participate in several of the competitions listed as qualifying routes.
Her absence from those events, according to her plea, was connected to pregnancy, childbirth, post-partum recovery and her subsequent return to competition.
Phogat has therefore asked the court to stay the operation of the September 7 circular to the extent that it excludes her and to direct the WFI to provisionally include her in the eligibility pool.
Vinesh Phogat World Wrestling Championship Trials: What the WFI Criteria Says
The WFI framework provides eligibility through several specified competitive routes.
These include medal winners from the 2025 Senior National Wrestling Championship, the 2026 Senior Open Ranking Tournament at Gonda, the 2026 U23 National Wrestling Championship and specified Federation Cup medal winners. Wrestlers attending the National Coaching Camp and those selected for the 2026 U20 World Wrestling Championship are also included under the criteria.
Phogat has argued that the framework does not provide an alternative route for athletes who were unable to compete in the prescribed events because of maternity-related circumstances.
Her case is that her absence from those competitions should not automatically prevent her from being assessed on sporting merit in the selection trials.
Vinesh Phogat Points to Asian Games Selection Trial Performance
Phogat has also referred to her performance in the 2026 Asian Games selection trials as evidence of her return to competitive wrestling.
She competed in the women’s 53kg category at the trials on May 30 and won her quarter-final bout before losing in the semi-final to Meenakshi Goyat.
Importantly, Phogat is not seeking automatic selection for the World Championships on the basis of that performance. Instead, her plea argues that the Asian Games trials demonstrate that she has returned to competitive action and that she should be allowed an opportunity to compete in the World Championships selection trials.
The legal dispute is therefore focused on her eligibility to enter the selection process rather than an automatic claim to a place in India’s World Championships team.
Delhi HC Also Hears Request Over WFI Disciplinary Proceedings
The latest hearing also involves Phogat’s request concerning disciplinary proceedings initiated by the WFI.
According to the OMMCOM report, the High Court asked the federation to obtain instructions on her request to defer any final decision in the disciplinary proceedings. Justice Sharma directed the WFI counsel to seek instructions on both issues before the next hearing.
Phogat’s broader petition seeks a fair and structured policy for women athletes returning to competitive sport following pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum recovery.
The Delhi High Court had previously sought responses from the WFI, Centre and Indian Olympic Association on that wider issue.
Vinesh Phogat World Wrestling Championship Trials Case Follows Earlier Legal Battle
This is not the first time Phogat’s return to competition has led to a legal dispute over selection eligibility.
Earlier this year, she challenged her initial exclusion from the Asian Games selection trials. The Delhi High Court eventually allowed her to participate, while the WFI challenged aspects of the order before the Supreme Court.
Phogat subsequently competed in the Asian Games trials but lost her 53kg semi-final against Meenakshi Goyat and did not qualify for the Asian Games team. The High Court later disposed of that particular petition after the selection trials had been completed.
The current dispute has again brought questions around selection rules and the return of athletes following maternity into focus.
What Happens Next in the Vinesh Phogat World Wrestling Championship Trials Case?
The Delhi High Court has listed the matter for Thursday after asking the WFI to obtain instructions.
The immediate question is whether Phogat will be allowed to enter the September 14 selection trials at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. The trials will determine India’s representatives for the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships in Astana.
For Phogat, the case represents another attempt to secure an opportunity to compete after returning from maternity-related absence. For the WFI, the issue involves the application of its eligibility framework for the national selection process.
The court’s next hearing is therefore expected to provide greater clarity on whether Phogat will be permitted to compete in the World Championships trials.
