The Delhi High Court on Wednesday disposed of petitions challenging the selection of riders for India’s Show Jumping team for the 2026 Asian Games after being informed that India will not send a Show Jumping team to the Games.
Justice Mini Pushkarna recorded the statement made on behalf of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports that the Indian national team in the Show Jumping discipline would not be sent to the Asian Games 2026. In view of this development, the Court held that the issues raised in the petitions no longer survived for adjudication and disposed of the matters as infructuous.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners argued that the dispute had arisen because two selected riders were allegedly ineligible under the applicable international eligibility criteria. It was submitted that the petitioner’s representation to the federation had gone unanswered, following which the issue was brought to the attention of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). The petitioner alleged that the federation had nevertheless proceeded with the nominations despite being aware of the eligibility concerns.
Counsel further expressed apprehension that the decision not to send a Show Jumping team could subsequently be revisited, as had allegedly happened in an earlier instance, and requested the Court to record that the earlier selections should not be revived. However, the Court declined to enter into the merits of the eligibility dispute or record any findings on the rival allegations.
Clarifying its order, Justice Pushkarna observed that the Court was not adjudicating any issue relating to the selection process or the eligibility of the riders, and that the petitions had become infructuous solely because the Authorities had decided not to send a Show Jumping team to the Asian Games. The Court also clarified that if any subsequent cause of action were to arise, the aggrieved parties would be at liberty to seek appropriate legal remedies in accordance with law.