The Delhi High Court has granted wrestler Vinesh Phogat permission to join the Asian Games 2026 selection trials. The court emphasized that motherhood should not be a barrier to professional opportunities. Phogat was directed to participate in the trials scheduled for May 30 and 31, with the process to be video-recorded.
The court highlighted the significance of accommodating motherhood in the lives of female athletes. It criticized the Wrestling Federation of India’s eligibility criteria, stating that it failed to consider Phogat’s maternity-related break. The court found that Phogat’s exclusion from the trials was due to her temporary retirement for maternity reasons.
Phogat’s appeal against the Wrestling Federation of India’s selection policy was successful. The court expressed disapproval of the language used in the federation’s notice to Phogat. It stressed the need for sporting frameworks to acknowledge the physical challenges faced by female athletes during motherhood and childbirth.
The court directed Phogat to be allowed to participate in the selection trials, pending the outcome of a writ petition. It also mandated the presence of independent observers from the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Olympic Association during the trials. The court clarified that it had not given a final opinion on the case’s merits, leaving the decision on the policy and selection criteria to the pending writ petition.
