New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has delivered a sharp rebuke to the Wrestling Federation of India, directing the Central government to ensure Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat's participation in the upcoming Asian Games trials.
The court expressed serious concerns that the federation's eligibility criteria may have been specifically modified to exclude the Tokyo Olympian following her return from maternity leave. In observations reflecting broader concerns about gender equity in Indian sports, the bench questioned whether motherhood should become a barrier to competitive opportunities for elite athletes.
The judicial intervention comes at a crucial juncture for Phogat, who has been a pioneering figure in Indian women's wrestling with multiple Commonwealth Games medals and a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. The court has mandated the formation of an expert committee to objectively evaluate her fitness levels for the continental championship trials.
Emphasising that administrative decisions must align with sporting merit rather than arbitrary regulations, the court declared such exclusionary practices as "not in the best interest of sports." The directive ensures Phogat, whose career has been marked by consistent podium finishes at international competitions, receives a fair assessment before India's wrestling squad for the Asian Games is finalised.