The Delhi High Court permitted wrestler Vinesh Phogat to compete in the Asian Games selection trials on May 23, 2024 [1].
The ruling challenges the authority of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and sets a legal precedent for the treatment of female athletes returning to professional sports after maternity leave.
The court criticized the WFI's selection policy, saying that it lacked the necessary discretion to account for the circumstances of an iconic player like Phogat. The bench described the policy as exclusionary and noted that it violated fundamental principles of fairness, and justice within the sporting community [1].
Beyond the selection policy, the court addressed a show-cause notice previously issued to the wrestler. The Delhi High Court said the notice was "deplorable and vindictive" [2].
Phogat's legal challenge centered on the lack of flexibility in the WFI's criteria, which effectively penalized athletes for taking time away for childbirth. By ruling in favor of the wrestler, the court emphasized that administrative policies must not create insurmountable barriers for women in sports.
In response to the court's decision, WFI President Sanjay Singh addressed the wrestler's potential return to the mats. "We assure her of safety and will not make any last‑minute changes," Singh said [3].
The decision allows Phogat to enter the trials and compete for a spot in the Asian Games, removing the administrative hurdles placed by the federation's current guidelines.
“"The policy is exclusionary and lacks discretion to consider an iconic player like her."”
This ruling signals a shift toward greater legal protection for maternal rights in Indian sports. By labeling the WFI's policy as exclusionary, the court is pushing national sporting bodies to modernize their selection criteria to ensure that maternity leave does not result in the permanent exclusion of elite athletes from international competition.
