Delhi High Court Denies Vinesh Phogat Interim Relief for World Wrestling Championship Trials
The Delhi High Court on Thursday (September 10, 2026) refused to grant star wrestler Vinesh Phogat interim permission to participate in the selection trials for the upcoming 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships. The selection trials are scheduled to take place on September 14 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed Phogat's application for interim relief against the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) September 7 circular, which outlined selection criteria based on performance in designated national and international competitions. Phogat, who recently returned to competitive sport after maternity leave following childbirth in July 2025, had challenged the circular, arguing that the criteria effectively excluded her from international competition as she was unable to participate in qualifying events during her pregnancy and recovery.
In its order, the High Court observed that granting interim exemption to an individual athlete without first adjudicating upon the validity of the selection policy itself would amount to creating an exception and lead to unequal treatment of other similarly situated athletes. However, the court highlighted an important institutional gap, calling on the WFI to frame comprehensive guidelines to support female athletes returning to competitive sports after maternity leave, emphasizing the need to balance national sporting interests with gender equity.
