The Delhi High Court on Monday, 7 July 2025, directed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to conclude disciplinary proceedings against Vinesh Phogat within two weeks, while closing as infructuous her petition challenging exclusion from the Asian Games 2026 selection trials. The court ruled that the writ petition had lost its purpose since Phogat had already been permitted to participate in the trials following earlier judicial orders.

What the Court Ordered

A single-judge Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma disposed of the petition, directing the WFI to take a decision on the show-cause notice issued on 9 May and communicate the outcome to both Phogat and the court. The federation also assured Justice Sharma that Phogat would be granted a personal hearing before any final decision is reached in the disciplinary proceedings.

Counsel for Phogat argued that the petition raised broader questions about the WFI's selection policy. The court, however, held that such issues would require an independent challenge and left it open for the wrestler to file a fresh writ petition on those grounds.

The Legal Journey So Far

The dispute began after a single-judge Bench declined to grant Phogat interim permission to participate in the 30-31 May Asian Games selection trials without first hearing the WFI. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav had simultaneously directed the federation to take its disciplinary proceedings to their logical conclusion before the next hearing date.

Phogat then approached a Division Bench, which permitted her to participate, observing that motherhood could not be treated as grounds for excluding a woman athlete from professional opportunities. A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia also questioned the WFI's revised eligibility criteria and ordered that the selection process be video-recorded under independent observers.

The WFI challenged that order before the Supreme Court, which allowed the trials to proceed but expressed reservations over certain observations made by the High Court at the interim stage. After the trials concluded, the Supreme Court disposed of the federation's Special Leave Petition (SLP) as infructuous, clarifying that its order should not be read as affirming the Delhi HC's observations against the WFI and keeping all issues open.

How Phogat Fared at the Trials

Phogat's comeback bid ended at the selection trials held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, where she lost 4-6 to Meenakshi Goyat in the women's 53kg semifinals on 31 May. The defeat meant she failed to secure qualification for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The Disciplinary Charges Against Phogat

The WFI's 15-page show-cause notice issued on 9 May alleged multiple acts of indiscipline, anti-doping violations, and breaches of international wrestling regulations against the three-time Olympian. The federation had also declared her ineligible to participate in WFI-sanctioned competitions until 26 June, prompting her to challenge both the disciplinary action and the revised eligibility criteria for the trials.

What Happens Next

With the WFI now under a court-mandated two-week deadline to conclude proceedings, Phogat's legal and sporting future is set to enter a decisive phase. Should the federation's decision go against her, the wrestler retains the option to challenge it through a fresh petition — keeping the courts at the centre of Indian wrestling's governance dispute.