NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court delivered a sharp rebuke to the Wrestling Federation of India on Thursday, directing the Central government to constitute an expert committee that will evaluate Vinesh Phogat's fitness and ensure her participation in the upcoming Asian Games trials.
The court's intervention came after the federation declared the celebrated grappler ineligible for the trials, raising concerns about potential discrimination following her return from maternity leave. Justice presiding over the matter expressed serious reservations about the timing and intent behind the WFI's decision, suggesting the rules may have been modified specifically to exclude the two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
In strongly-worded observations, the bench emphasised that choosing motherhood cannot become a barrier in an athlete's career progression, stating the federation's actions were "not in the best interest of sports." The court has mandated that a panel of experts assess Vinesh's physical readiness for competition ahead of the continental championship.
Vinesh, a trailblazer in Indian wrestling with multiple international medals including World Championship bronze, has been fighting for her rightful place in the national contingent. The court's decisive stance ensures due process for the wrestler while questioning administrative practices that could discourage female athletes from starting families.