Delhi, The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Union Government, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on a petition filed by wrestler Vinesh Phogat seeking a transparent and inclusive return-to-competition policy for women athletes returning from pregnancy.
Court notice, hearing date and relief sought
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice and listed the matter for hearing on November 18. The petition requests objective selection criteria and alternative pathways for athletes whose rankings or performances have been affected by pregnancy-related breaks, arguing that the current system places women at a disadvantage after maternity leave.
Vinesh has also asked that she be considered for competitions for which she meets eligibility requirements and demanded a fixed, time-bound calendar for domestic competitions to reduce uncertainty for athletes aiming to return to international competition.
Background and immediate sporting plans
The petition notes that Vinesh gave birth in July 2025 and subsequently began efforts to resume competitive wrestling. According to the filing, she was required to compete under identical selection conditions as other athletes despite having missed tournaments while pregnant and on maternity leave.
Sporting schedules are already in focus as Vinesh is slated to participate in the 53kg category at the Asian Games trials, underlining the immediate sporting consequences of the legal challenge.
Arguments presented
Senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, representing the wrestler, said the petition raises a wider question on maternity leave and its effect on women athletes’ ability to compete. He pointed to international norms that, according to the petition, provide protections such as ranking preservation for female athletes who take maternity leave.
“This is a larger question on lady athletes and maternity leave and impact on their ability to participate in the sport. In fact, international standards are that female athlete who takes maternity leave is given some benefits and protection of her ranking, etc,”
The prayer before the court seeks formal recognition of these concerns within domestic selection mechanisms, pressing for objective measures that account for pregnancy-related absence when nominations and selections for major events are determined.
Implications for selection policy and athletes
The case places the WFI’s and IOA’s selection systems under scrutiny and could have broader implications for other national federations if the court endorses safeguards or alternative selection routes for women returning from maternity.
- Transparency: Petition demands clearer, published criteria for return-to-competition selection.
- Ranking protection: Seeks mechanisms to mitigate ranking loss due to pregnancy-related absence.
- Alternative routes: Calls for substitute pathways to qualification and nomination where ordinary performance metrics are affected by maternity.
Vinesh’s plea highlights a tension between rigid selection systems that rely heavily on recent competition form and the need to protect athletes during life events such as childbirth. The court’s response may prompt federations to review rules to ensure compliance with international standards cited in the petition.
| Event | Date / Detail |
|---|---|
| Childbirth | July 2025 |
| Court hearing listed | November 18 |
| Planned competition | Asian Games trials — 53kg category |
The petition also seeks structural reform, including a fixed calendar for domestic competitions so athletes can plan returns without being disadvantaged by ad hoc scheduling. If the court directs the respondents to frame rules in line with the petitioner’s demands, it may lead to formal policy changes at the WFI and across other sports bodies.
Notices to the Centre, WFI and IOA require their official responses to the court’s registry before the next hearing. The matter will be monitored closely by athletes’ associations and stakeholders in women’s sport, given its potential to reshape how maternity is managed in elite sport in India.
