New Delhi – In a significant ruling on September 10, 2026, the Delhi High Court rejected wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s plea for an exemption from the eligibility requirements for the 2026 Senior World Championship selection trials. The court affirmed that the criteria set by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) must be applied uniformly to all competitors.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued the interim order following Phogat’s application, which sought permission to participate in the trials scheduled for September 14 at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium without meeting the standard eligibility conditions.
Court Upholds WFI Eligibility Rules
The High Court emphasized that it was not inclined to grant interim relief that would exempt Phogat from the WFI’s prescribed conditions. “The criteria prescribed under the circular dated September 7, 2026, apply uniformly to all athletes,” the court stated. It clarified that any athlete, regardless of their reason for non-participation in specified competitions, would not fall within the eligibility categories if they failed to meet them.
Phogat’s application highlighted her return to wrestling after maternity leave, arguing that her exclusion stemmed from her inability to compete in designated qualifying events due to her pregnancy and postpartum recovery, rather than a lack of sporting merit. She contended that the WFI’s framework effectively created a “closed pathway” for selection.
Maternity Circumstances Acknowledged, But No Automatic Exemption
While acknowledging Phogat’s unique circumstances related to pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery, the court stated these did not automatically entitle her to violate existing eligibility criteria. Justice Sharma observed that granting such an interim exemption to a single petitioner, without a full adjudication of the WFI’s policy, could result in unequal treatment for other similarly situated athletes.
The court also clarified that its order should not be construed as a final decision on the validity of the WFI’s September 7 circular or on the merits of any pending disciplinary proceedings against Phogat. The decision was strictly on the interim relief sought by the wrestler.