Vinesh Phogat's bid to compete in the 2026 Senior World Championships selection trials has suffered a major setback after the Delhi High Court refused to grant her interim exemption from the Wrestling Federation of India's eligibility rules. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma passed the interim order late on Thursday. The WFI trials are scheduled for September 14 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. Phogat had challenged the federation's September 7 selection circular, arguing that it prevented her from entering the women's trials. The court said it was not inclined to provide an exemption at this stage.Why Was Phogat Denied Entry?The Delhi High Court said the eligibility criteria in the September 7 WFI circular apply uniformly to all athletes. Under those rules, wrestlers must have participated in specified competitions to qualify for the selection process. Phogat had not competed in those events because she was returning to wrestling after maternity leave. The court said her circumstances would need consideration when the validity of the policy is examined, but they did not automatically justify an interim exemption.Phogat challenged the WFI's September 7 circular.The selection trials are scheduled for September 14.The trials will be held at Indira Gandhi Stadium.The court declined an interim exemption from eligibility rules.The 2026 World Championships are scheduled in Astana, Kazakhstan.Dispute Over Selection RulesPhogat approached the Delhi High Court after the WFI introduced eligibility conditions for the women's selection trials. Reports said the circular limited eligibility to athletes meeting specified participation and performance requirements in competitions including the 2025 Senior National Wrestling Championship, the 2026 Senior Open Ranking Tournament, the U23 National Championships and other listed events. Phogat's maternity break meant she did not compete in the required competitions.The latest dispute follows an earlier legal battle involving Phogat and the WFI. In May, the Delhi High Court had allowed her to participate in the Asian Games selection trials and described the earlier WFI policy as exclusionary because it did not provide flexibility for her return following maternity leave. That decision had allowed her to continue her competitive comeback at that stage.Also Read: India Women’s Hockey Crush Pakistan 19-0 in Junior Asia Cup Semi-Final PushCourt Declines Interim ReliefThe latest order takes a different immediate position because the court was considering only whether Phogat should receive interim permission to enter the World Championships trials before deciding the wider legal challenge. The court noted that giving an individual exemption without first deciding the validity of the policy could create unequal treatment for other athletes who were also subject to the criteria.The court also acknowledged that Phogat's circumstances involving pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum recovery would require consideration while examining the policy itself. However, those circumstances alone were not enough for the court to order her participation in the September 14 trials at the interim stage.Key HighlightsVinesh Phogat has been denied interim entry to the WFI trials.The Delhi High Court refused to suspend the eligibility criteria.WFI's selection trials are scheduled for September 14 in New Delhi.Phogat's maternity break is central to the eligibility dispute.The 2026 Senior World Championships are scheduled in Astana, Kazakhstan.The court said the broader validity of the policy requires separate consideration.Phogat Faces Major Wrestling SetbackThe Delhi High Court's decision means Vinesh Phogat cannot participate in the September 14 World Championships selection trials under the current eligibility rules. Her petition has raised wider questions about how selection policies should address athletes returning after pregnancy and maternity leave. For now, however, the court has declined to grant the interim relief she sought.The 2026 Senior World Championships are scheduled to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1. Phogat's immediate route to the Indian team therefore faces a major legal and selection hurdle following the latest Delhi High Court order.Disclaimer: This information is provided for knowledge purposes only and is intended to provide news information based on available reports.
