The Delhi High Court has disposed of a batch of petitions challenging the selection of riders for India’s Show Jumping team for the 2026 Asian Games after being informed that the country would not field a national team in the tournament.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna on Wednesday recorded the statements made on behalf of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI), and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, which apprised the Court that no Indian Show Jumping team would be sent to participate in the 2026 Asian Games.
In view of the decision, the Court held that the issues raised in the writ petitions no longer survived for adjudication and disposed of the matters as infructuous, observing that no effective relief could be granted once the decision had been taken not to send a team.
The counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the dispute arose from the selection process adopted by EI. It was contended that two riders selected for the national team were allegedly ineligible under the applicable eligibility criteria prescribed by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sports.
The petitioners argued that they had submitted a representation before the federation raising objections regarding the eligibility of the selected riders. However, as no action was taken on the representation, the issue was subsequently brought to the notice of the FEI. According to the petitioners, despite being aware of the alleged eligibility concerns, the federation proceeded with the nominations for the Asian Games.
The petitioners also expressed apprehension that the authorities might subsequently reconsider their decision and revive the earlier team selection, as was allegedly done on a previous occasion. They requested the Court to record that the earlier selection process and nominations should not be restored in the event of any future decision to send a Show Jumping team.
The High Court, however, declined to examine the merits of the rival contentions relating to the selection process or the eligibility of the riders. It clarified that the petitions were being disposed of solely because the authorities had decided not to send a Show Jumping team to the 2026 Asian Games and that the Court was not expressing any opinion on the legality or validity of the selection process or the eligibility of any rider.
Clarifying the scope of its order, the Court observed that if any fresh cause of action arises in the future, including any subsequent decision by the authorities concerning the participation of an Indian Show Jumping team in the Asian Games, the aggrieved parties would be at liberty to pursue appropriate legal remedies in accordance with law. The Court accordingly disposed of the petitions without adjudicating the issues raised on merits.
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