New Delhi: Another day, another controversy in the Paris Olympics 2024 and yet another Indian athlete faces the axe of the Olympic authorities. After Vinesh Phogat, another wrestler Antim Panghal was deported from the Paris Olympic Village along with her entire entourage.
Antim had slumped to a miserable defeat against the Turkish wrestler Yetgil Zeynep 10-0 in the women’s 53kg category. The bronze medal hopes of Antim were still there if the Indian grappler managed to qualify for the medal match through the repechage round. However, Panghal’s hopes were all dashed to the ground as Yetgil lost her bout to Annika Wendle of Germany.
Paris Olympics 2024: Wrestler Antim Panghal's Entourage To Be Deported From Paris, Accreditation Cancelled😐
Bhagat and Vikas have passed all the eligibility test to join Bjp pic.twitter.com/JPZCgkWWTS
— Pritesh Shah (@priteshshah_) August 7, 2024
Now that she finds herself in an extraordinary situation, Panghal’s entire entourage is heading home. The official statement of IOA stated, “The Indian Olympic Association has decided to fly wrestler Antim and her support staff back after a disciplinary breach was brought to IOA’s notice by the French authorities.”
Why was Antim’s entire entourage deported?
After the entire confusion mellowed down, it was found that the actual reason for Antim’s deportation was not her own doing. It was her sister Nisha’s fault which the entire retinue had to face. According to sources, Antim had gone back to her hotel room after she finished her bout with the Turkish grappler.
Subsequently, Antim asked her sister Nisha to fetch her belongings from the Olympic Games Village which is located a bit far from where she was staying. Nisha managed to trespass the Olympic Games Village amidst tight security.
Breaking!🚨
Indian wrestler Antim Panghal’s sister is detained by Paris Police while Antim’s accreditation is revoked.
She is expected to be flown back after her sister illegally entered Olympic village using Antim’s accreditation card.
What our IOC administrators are doing… pic.twitter.com/KaaIaxx0s9
— Veena Jain (@DrJain21) August 8, 2024
However, once inside the Games Village, Nisha was caught by the authorities while she was trying to leave. Subsequently, the authorities started interrogating her. Upon rigorous interrogation, it was found that Nisha did not have the requisite documents that were required for her access to the Olympic Games Village.
Added to this burden, the support staff of Antim-Vikas and Bhagat were also embroiled in a conflict which accentuated the situation. According to sources and reports, the 2 had allegedly travelled in an intoxicated state in a public vehicle and did not pay the fare post the conclusion of the journey. Therefore, the cab drivers decided to call the police who in turn informed the concerned Olympic authorities.