Delhi High Court Refuses Vinesh Phogat Interim Entry to World Championship Trials, Citing Uniform Eligibility Criteria

Phogat stayed away from competition in 2024-25 because of pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum recovery (para 3). Earlier in 2026 a Division Bench, prima facie finding the Asian Games selection policy exclusionary, let her compete in those trials, where she reached the semi-final; WFI then issued a second show-cause notice alleging misconduct at those trials, and neither notice has been decided (paras 3, 10). Her present writ petition seeks a framework for women athletes returning after maternity (para 2). By this application she sought to join the 14.09.2026 trials despite not meeting the qualifying-competition criteria in WFI's circular of 07.09.2026 (paras 5-6).

The Court held that the Division Bench's relief related only to the Asian Games policy and the first show-cause notice, and gave no continuing exemption from later criteria (paras 10, 16). Without expressing a view on its merits, it held that the pending second show-cause notice, arising from the very trials she had been allowed into, could not be ignored; the record also showed that she had not used the first three opportunities to appear before the Disciplinary Committee and came to Court only when the trials were imminent (paras 11-13). The circular's criteria apply uniformly and are not aimed at her (paras 14, 16). Her maternity-related circumstances, and whether a policy must provide for athletes returning after childbirth, are for final adjudication (paras 15, 20). Seeking only participation, not selection, does not dispense with eligibility (para 17). A provisional direction would carve out an exception for her alone and be unfair to other athletes (para 18), and "The interest of the country in ensuring that its representatives are selected through a fair, uniform and performance-based process is of paramount importance" (para 19).