Court Orders Expert Panel for Vinesh Phogat Selection

Delhi High Court has issued a sharp rebuke to the Wrestling Federation of India following its decision to bar Vinesh Phogat from national competitions. The judges noted that the country respects motherhood and that the federation’s rigid rules appear out of step with contemporary realities. The court has instructed the Centre to constitute an expert committee that will assess Vinesh’s readiness and clear her path to the Asian Games trials. Vinesh, who returned to wrestling after giving birth, was served a show-cause notice citing alleged indiscipline and doping rule breaches. She was also barred from domestic events until June 2026, which prevented her participation in the recent National Open Ranking Tournament. After her appeal to the federation was ignored, she moved the Delhi High Court seeking permission to compete in the upcoming selection trials. While the first hearing did not yield interim relief, the latest order reflects a more interventionist approach by the judiciary to protect athletes' rights.