‘National shame?’: Delhi HC raps WFI over remarks on Vinesh Phogat Olympics exit
High Court reserves orders on the Olympian’s plea to participate in Asian Games trials after the wrestling federation refused to relent, says ‘we will not leave anything to you’
The Delhi High Court on Friday sharply criticised the Wrestling Federation of India for calling Vinesh Phogat’s Paris Olympics disqualification a “national shame”, urging the Centre to ensure the Olympian wrestler is allowed to participate in the 2026 Asian Games selection trials. (File Photo) The Delhi High Court came down heavily on the Centre and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Friday, taking serious objection to the WFI describing wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s 2024 Paris Olympics defeat as a “national shame”.
The bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said it would “pass orders” on Phogat’s request to be allowed to participate in the selection trials for this year’s Asian Games in Japan, scheduled on May 30-31.
Despite oral inquiries by the court on multiple occasions, the WFI has so far refused to relent on Phogat’s participation. On Friday, the court remarked orally that “we will not leave anything to you (WFI) now”.
Phogat has challenged two circulars of the WFI, laying down eligibility criteria for participating in the Asiad selection trials. In a departure from previous years, the criteria made medal wins in 2025 or 2026 mandatory to be eligible to even participate in the selection trials.
This means that Phogat, who has been on a break since December 2024 — which included a maternity break — is excluded from participation.
Phogat has also challenged a showcause notice sent by the WFI on May 9, accusing her of indiscipline, violations of anti-doping regulations, and breaches of United World Wrestling (UWW) rules.
The notice also accused her of failing to make the weight at the 2024 Paris Olympics, “resulting in disqualification and national embarrassment”. She has been barred from participating in any WFI events until June 26, even though the world federation has held that she is eligible to participate from January 1 this year.
On Friday, the bench strongly objected to the WFI terming Phogat’s failure to make weight by 100 grams in the 50 kg category as a “national shame”.
CJ Upadhyaya said, “The mishap that happened with this lady, was it a national shame?… She reached the finals and was disqualified for being overweight by how many grams?… Can you describe it as a national shame? One of the reasons indicated in the showcause notice is national shame?… That’s how you’re serving the cause of wrestling in the country?… She became a mother only in July 2025, and motherhood in this country is celebrated. It is not to be looked upon like this. Everything is clear. What are her credentials, how many medals has she won?… Don’t act in vengeance.”
On May 3, Phogat said she was one of the six women wrestlers who had complained about alleged sexual harassment by former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a former MP.
The bench also pulled up the Centre over its inaction against sports administrators, and for “sitting silent” on the WFI’s “retrograde” eligibility criteria that excluded wrestlers of repute from participating in selection trials.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports told the court that it “cannot step into the shoes of the WFI because then I (the Ministry) risk some international repercussions”. It was WFI and not the Central government that had set the eligibility criteria for participation in the selection trials, the Ministry said.
The Centre, however, said that if WFI decided to make an exception to allow Phogat to participate, either by modifying its criteria or by taking a decision to include her participation, it would “fully support them”.
“The Ministry will appoint an observer, a senior official from the Sports Authority of India (SAI)… we will also request an independent observer from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and ensure that all selection proceedings are video-recorded… There is no bar on WFI to amend its criteria (to ensure Phogat’s inclusion),” the counsel for the Sports Ministry said.
Noting the “fair stance” taken by the Centre, the bench posed a question to the WFI: “Are you going to allow her to participate in the trial or not?”
“If you allow, the trial will be supervised by the Centre, you will have your technical observers, they will also appoint an independent observer as will IOA…and the selection trial will be videographed… Are you going to allow her or not?… We would request you to kindly allow her to participate in the selection trials,” it said.
However, the counsel for WFI requested time to get back with instructions Monday. “In the meantime, if (Phogat) can send us a representation, that… an exemption should be granted to her to participate in selection trials?”
The court then orally told the WFI counsel, “We are only requesting you to convince your client (WFI), let her participate in the trials to be held on May 30… Depending on the outcome of the trial, exemption shall be ensured by the Centre. That will be in the best interest of the sport.”
The bench also pointed out, “The world federation says she can participate from January 1, 2026. You are denying her participation.”
When the counsel for WFI once again requested time to seek instructions and sought a representation from Phogat, the court reserved the matter for orders. “We will not leave anything to you now. We will pass orders. Go and challenge it,” bench said.
The IOA told the court that it was “distancing itself from the (showcause notice)”. It said Phogat was a star athlete, and the association supported her.
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