Indian wrestler, team deported after disciplinary breach amid Paris Olympics

India’s woman wrestler Antim Panghal, alongside her support staff, has been deported back to India for a disciplinary breach during the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024.

According to the details, Panghal went to a local hotel after featuring in her first bout in the Games and instead of heading back to the Village, she stayed there with her coach Bhagat Singh and sparring partner Vikas.

Furthermore, the wrestler then asked her sister to go to the Paris Olympics Village and bring back her belongings, who, however, got caught despite impersonating as Antim Panghal.

“The Indian Olympic Association [IOA] 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,” Indian media quoted an official as saying.

“Antim [Panghal] asked her sister to go to the Games Village and come back with her belongings. Her sister was caught for impersonation and was taken to a police station to record her statement,” according to the IOA statement.

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Moreover, Panghal’s team including coach Bhagat Singh and Vikas were involved in an altercation with a taxi driver on their way back to the Olympic Village in an “inebriated state”. They also refused to pay for the journey.

“If that was not enough, Antim’s personal support staff — Vikas and Bhagat — travelled in an inebriated state in a taxi and refused to pay the driver, who then called police,” Indian media outlets reported, citing an unnamed IOA official.

“We have left to fight fire. When contacted, Vikas flatly refused their involvement in such an incident,” the official said.

Remember, Antim Panghal suffered defeat in her opening bout of the Paris Olympics to a Turkish wrestler.

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