The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) response on whether wrestler Vinesh Phogat could be allowed to compete in the selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championship, while also asking the federation to consider holding back a final decision in disciplinary proceedings against her.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed the WFI's counsel to obtain instructions on both issues and listed the matter for Thursday. The World Championship trials for women are scheduled to take place on September 14 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. The championships themselves are scheduled to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1.
Phogat challenges exclusion from selection trials
The court was hearing two applications filed by Phogat through her lawyers Ashita Khanna and Ritwik Prakash.
In one application, the wrestler sought an early hearing of her petition challenging disciplinary proceedings arising from show-cause notices issued by the WFI. The notices relate to allegations of indiscipline, breaches of anti-doping regulations and misconduct during the 2026 Asian Games selection trials.
The second application challenges a WFI circular dated September 7 setting out the eligibility criteria for the Senior World Championship selection trials.
According to the circular, eligibility is restricted to specified medal winners from the 2025 Senior National Wrestling Championship, the 2026 Senior Open Ranking Tournament at Gonda, the 2026 U23 National Wrestling Championship and the 2026 Federation Cup. Wrestlers attending the National Coaching Camp and those selected for the 2026 U20 World Wrestling Championship are also eligible.
Phogat has argued that she does not fall into any of these categories and has therefore been excluded from the trials.
WFI disciplinary proceedings also under court's scrutiny
During Wednesday's hearing, Phogat's counsel Rajshekhar Rao told the court that the next hearing in her petition concerning the disciplinary proceedings had been fixed for September 29. However, the WFI subsequently scheduled a disciplinary hearing for September 9, describing it as her final opportunity to appear.
Rao said Phogat was willing to participate in the proceedings but asked the court to direct the disciplinary committee not to issue a final order before the matter was considered by the court.
He also argued that the September 7 selection circular effectively prevented Phogat from taking part in Monday's trials. Rao submitted that her maternity break should not affect her eligibility and stressed that she was not seeking preferential treatment.
The WFI, however, argued that Phogat had already been given five opportunities to appear before the disciplinary committee. Its counsel said she had declined to attend a hearing scheduled for September 2, citing the pending writ petition, and contended that she was now attempting to avoid the disciplinary process.
Court had earlier allowed Phogat to compete
The latest dispute comes months after the Delhi High Court intervened in Phogat's earlier challenge to the WFI's Asian Games selection policy.
In May, a division bench allowed her to participate in the Asian Games selection trials, observing that the federation's criteria were exclusionary because they did not provide discretion to accommodate an accomplished athlete returning from a maternity break. The court also said that motherhood could not be treated as a professional impediment or a basis for adverse treatment.
The court directed that those trials be video-recorded and that independent observers from the Sports Authority of India and Indian Olympic Association monitor the process.
Phogat had previously disclosed that she was among six women wrestlers who complained of sexual harassment against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. She, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia were among the prominent faces of the 36-day protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in April and May 2023.
A Delhi trial court subsequently acquitted Singh on August 3, 2026, of charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation in the case involving the six women wrestlers.