Asian Games 2026: Delhi High Court Questions Equestrian Team Selection, Flags Non-Compliance With Selection Criteria

During the hearing, the Bench expressed serious concern over the fact that the mandatory selection process under Clause 15 had not been followed. The Court indicated that once the selection criteria had been framed, the authorities were expected to adhere to them and could not selectively ignore provisions while finalising the team.

The Bench also took note of the practical complications now confronting the matter. It observed that several horses and riders are presently stationed in different countries, and any fresh selection exercise would also have to account for international quarantine requirements applicable to horses before the Asian Games.

In view of these complexities, the Court directed the Union of India and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to return before it at 2:30 PM on July 2 with instructions on how the irregularity, if established, could be addressed without jeopardising India's participation in the event.

The matter arises out of challenges to the selection list issued on June 16, 2026, for India's Dressage Team participating in the 20th Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

Earlier, a Single Judge of the High Court had dismissed two writ petitions challenging the selection process. Justice Mini Pushkarna had held that the failure to conduct additional competitions among the shortlisted riders did not invalidate the selection, accepting EFI's explanation that further trials were not feasible because the athletes were spread across different parts of Europe.

The single judge had observed, “This Court is of the considered opinion that the selection procedure followed by the EFI is in consonance with the Selection Criteria and the absence of subsequent competitive rounds does not invalidate the decision of the EFI. Failure to conduct additional competitions in terms of Clause 15(b) of the Selection Criteria does not undermine or vitiate the decision reached by the Selection Committee and the Ad-hoc Executive Committee of EFI, which are the deciding authorities under the Selection Criteria”.

However, during Wednesday's hearing, the Division Bench questioned that approach and examined whether the Selection Committee and the Ad hoc Committee could depart from the procedure expressly prescribed under Clause 15 of the Selection Criteria.

The Court has now kept the matter pending and will consider the submissions of the Union Government and the IOA on Thursday before deciding the further course of action.