The Delhi high court on Wednesday asked the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) whether it was willing to permit wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championship scheduled for Monday and to defer passing a final order in the disciplinary proceedings initiated against her.
“Take instructions on both the matters. In the second application, Phogat challenged WFI’s September 7 circular prescribing the eligibility criteria for the selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championship, to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1. The selection trials are scheduled for September 14 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. Under the circular, eligibility is limited 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, the 2026 Federation Cup, wrestlers currently attending the National Coaching Camp, and those selected for the 2026 U20 World Wrestling Championship. During the hearing, Phogat’s counsel Rajshekhar Rao submitted that although the court fixed September 29 as the next date of hearing in the petition concerning the disciplinary proceedings, the WFI subsequently issued a notice scheduling the disciplinary proceedings for September 9 and saying that the same was a last and final opportunity.
He said Phogat was ready to participate in the proceedings but urged the court to direct the committee not to pass any final order. I will hear them tomorrow,” the judge said to WFI’s lawyer.
