The Delhi High Court has said it would examine and adjudicate upon the larger question of how motherhood and maternity are to be balanced against the demands of a sporting career.

The question arose during the hearing of a petition by wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who became a mother in July 2025 and has returned from maternity leave, seeking permission to participate in the women's selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Championships.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, in a late-night interim order on Thursday, refused to allow the grappler to participate in the selection trials scheduled to be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on September 14.

It said at this interim stage, the court is of the view that the eligibility criteria applicable to all athletes ought not to be relaxed in favour of Phogat alone, particularly when such relaxation may have consequences for other similarly situated athletes who are not before it.

“This court is also mindful that selection to represent the country at an international championship carries with it considerations extending beyond the individual claim of any particular athlete. The interest of the country in ensuring that its representatives are selected through a fair, uniform and performance-based process is of paramount importance,” Justice Sharma said.

The judge added, “this court is also conscious that the larger question as to how motherhood and maternity are to be balanced against the demands of a sporting career, and whether an athlete ought to require to choose between motherhood and pursuing her career, merits careful consideration. However, that issue is yet to be finally examined and adjudicated upon in the present proceedings”.

Till the validity and applicability of the selection policy itself is adjudicated upon, the eligibility criteria prescribed thereunder cannot simply be set aside or wished away in the case of one athlete, and a special class cannot be carved out in favour of the petitioner,

particularly when other athletes similarly placed may also face a comparable dilemma and may be required to make similar choices in the course of their sporting careers, it said.

Source: telegraphindia