The Delhi High Court has dismissed the petitions filed by prominent Indian wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, which challenged the elections of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The court's decision came after the petitioners repeatedly failed to appear for hearings.
Court Cites Repeated Absence of Petitioners
Justice Mini Pushkarna, who was presiding over the matter, noted a consistent pattern of absence from the wrestlers' legal team. When the case was taken up for hearing on November 27, 2025, neither the petitioners nor their legal representatives were present in court.
The judge officially recorded that this was not an isolated incident. The petitioners had also remained absent during the previous two hearings. This repeated failure to appear and pursue their own legal challenge was a key factor in the court's decision to dismiss the petitions.
Background of the Legal Challenge
The petitions were filed by Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia and world champion Vinesh Phogat, challenging the legitimacy and process of the WFI elections. Their legal move was part of a prolonged period of friction between a section of top wrestlers and the federation's administration.
The wrestlers, along with Sakshi Malik, had been at the forefront of protests demanding reforms and a change in leadership within the WFI, citing issues of governance and athlete welfare.
Implications for Indian Wrestling
The dismissal of these petitions by the Delhi High Court effectively removes a significant legal hurdle that was casting a shadow over the elected body of the Wrestling Federation of India. It provides a degree of judicial validation to the electoral process that was under scrutiny.
This ruling allows the currently elected WFI administration to continue its operations without the immediate legal challenge from these star athletes. However, it also highlights the ongoing disconnect and unresolved issues between the federation and some of its most celebrated competitors.
The development marks a crucial legal juncture in the saga that has gripped Indian sports for over two years, shifting the focus back to the mat and the ongoing efforts to reconcile differences for the future of wrestling in the country.
