File photo of Antim Panghal© X (Twitter)
Antim Panghal’s entourage will be deported from Paris after her sister Nisha tried to use the Indian wrestler’s accreditation to enter the Olympic Village during the Paris 2024 Olympics but was detained by the police. The police questioned Nisha but she was released after some time. The authorities have decided to deport Antim’s entire entourage and her accreditation has also been revoked following the incident. Antim had earlier been humiliated 0-10 by Turkey’s Yetgil Zeynep in the women’s 53kg class.
“The Indian Olympic Federation has decided to airlift wrestler Antim and her support staff back home after French authorities brought a disciplinary violation to the attention of the IOA,” the IOA said in a statement.
After losing her bout, she went to the hotel where her appointed coach Bhagat Singh and her current coach Vikas, who is also her coach, were staying, PTI reported.
Antim asked her sister to go to the Games Village and get her things. While her sister managed to get into the Village, she was caught by the security guard as she was leaving.
She was taken to a local police station to record her statement. The 19-year-old junior world champion Antim was also called by the police to record her statement.
As if that wasn't enough, Antim's personal attendants, Vikas and Bhagat, were said to have been intoxicated in a taxi. They refused to pay the fare, prompting the driver to call the police.
“We are now working on extinguishing the fire,” an IOA source said.
“We have a bad situation, our security officer is dealing with the situation. They might be deported, let's see,” the official source added.
The 19-year-old debutant's hopes of staying in contention for a bronze medal via repechage were also dashed after Zeynep lost in the quarterfinals to Germany's Annika Wendle. Earlier, World Championship bronze medallist Antim, who was among the first to secure an Olympic quota in the category previously held by Vinesh Phogat, was outclassed in the first round in 101 seconds.
(With PTI inputs)
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