Delhi HC refuses to allow Vinesh Phogat’s participation in selection trials for 2026 Senior World Championships

The Delhi High Court on September 10, 2026, denied former wrestler Vinesh Phogat's request to participate in the women's selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Championships. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma ruled that the court was not prepared to grant an interim exemption from the eligibility criteria at this stage. The court emphasized that the eligibility standards outlined in the September 7, 2026, circular applied equally to all athletes.

Phogat, who had recently returned from maternity leave, sought permission to compete in the selection trials scheduled for September 14. While the court acknowledged that Phogat's circumstances due to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery would need to be considered during the evaluation of the policy, it stated that granting such relief at the interim stage would not automatically exempt her from the eligibility criteria.

The court also expressed concern that awarding relief to Phogat alone could lead to unequal treatment of similarly situated athletes not present in court. Phogat's application also sought a stay on a September 7 circular issued by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) that set forth the eligibility criteria for the selection trials.

The circular excluded Phogat from competing in the championship, scheduled to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1. The WFI circular created a "closed pathway" by making participation in specific qualifying competitions a prerequisite for eligibility, according to Phogat's plea.