Indian wrestler Antim Panghal and her entourage are set to be deported from Paris after a significant breach of protocol at the Paris Olympics 2024. The incident occurred when Panghal’s sister, Nisha, used Antim’s accreditation to enter the Olympic Games Village and was subsequently detained by the police.
Nisha was questioned by the authorities and released shortly afterward. However, the incident led to the cancellation of the accreditation of Antim Panghal and the decision to deport her entire entourage. This follows Panghal’s earlier 0-10 defeat to Turkey’s Yetgil Zeynep in the women’s 53 kg category.
“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,” the IOA said in a statement.
After her bout, Antim Panghal returned to her hotel where her coaches, Bhagat Singh and Vikas, were staying. According to reports, Antim Panghal asked her sister to collect her belongings from the Games Village. While Nisha successfully entered the Village, she was apprehended by security upon exiting.
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Nisha and the 19-year-old junior world champion Antim Panghal were both taken to a local police station to give statements. Compounding the situation, Antim’s coaches, Vikas and Bhagat, were reported to have travelled in an inebriated state and refused to pay their cab fare, prompting the driver to involve the police.
“We are fighting fire as of now,” an IOA source told the NDTV. “We have a bad situation at hand, our security officer is dealing with the situation. They might be deported, let’s see.”
Antim’s hopes of competing for a bronze medal through repechage were also dashed after Zeynep lost to Annika Wendle of Germany in the quarterfinals. Antim, who was one of the first to secure an Olympic quota in the category previously held by Vinesh Phogat, was outclassed in just 101 seconds during the first round.
