Indian wrestler Antim Panghal, who lost in the 53kg category, was summoned by the police inside the Athletes’ Village in Paris. Antim was accused of ‘smuggling’ her sister inside the village, in a major violation of the rules.
It is learnt that Antim and her sister are likely to be ‘deported’ back to India on Thursday.
“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,” an IOA statement said.
Moreover, Antim’s support staff — coaches Bhagat Singh and Vikas — were embroiled in another police case. According to sources, they took a cab from the Village to their hotel on Wednesday evening. Upon reaching the hotel, they refused to pay the cab driver and misbehaved with him before rushing inside the premises. The cab driver, sources added, also approached the police following the incident.
Antim made her Olympic debut on Wednesday in the 53 kg category — the pet weight class of Vinesh Phogat. Considered one of India’s medal prospects, she lost in a one-sided first round bout against Zeynep Yetgil. The 19-year-old left the Champ-de-Mars Arena in tears and was accompanied by her sister and coaches to the hotel where they were staying.
She then asked her sister to pack her belongings and travel with her to the Village, where Antim passed the heavy security checkpoints with her accreditation card. Then, she passed the card to her sister. When she tried to sneak in posing as Antim, she was caught by the Village security.
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Late on Wednesday evening, Antim and her sister were at the police station inside the Village. It is learnt that the police have advised the Indian team officials to book them on the flight back to India on Thursday.
The Indian contingent leaders could not be reached for a comment when contacted.
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