TOI Sports Desk
NEW DELHI: In a major embarrassment for India, Antim Panghal and her entire entourage is being deported from Paris following a major disciplinary breach where the wrestler handed her official accreditation to her younger sibling.
Antim handed over the accreditation to her younger sister to collect her personal belongings from the Games Village but she was caught by security while exiting.
The episode occurred after Antim was eliminated from the Paris Olympics in the women’s 53kg wrestling event. After being defeated in her opening bout, Antim returned to her hotel, where her designated coach Bhagat Singh and her actual coach Vikas were present.
Antim asked her sister to collect her belongings from the Games Village. Although her sister managed to enter, she was caught by the security while leaving.
Antim’s sister was then taken to a local police station to record her statement.
Antim, a 19-year-old junior world champion, was also summoned for a statement.
“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.
While IOA did not share what the disciplinary breach was, a source shared the details with news agency PTI.
“Instead of heading to the Games Village, she reached the hotel where her coach Bhagat Singh and sparring partner Vikas, who is actually her coach, were staying. Antim 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,” said the source.
The situation worsened when Antim’s personal support staff, Vikas and Bhagat, allegedly traveled in a cab while inebriated and refused to pay the fare, prompting the driver to call the police.
“We have left to fight fire,” fumed an IOA official.
When contacted, Vikas flatly refused their involvement in such an incident.
“Who told you this? Antim and her sister are sitting right before me,” said Vikas.
Antim handed over the accreditation to her younger sister to collect her personal belongings from the Games Village but she was caught by security while exiting.
The episode occurred after Antim was eliminated from the Paris Olympics in the women’s 53kg wrestling event. After being defeated in her opening bout, Antim returned to her hotel, where her designated coach Bhagat Singh and her actual coach Vikas were present.
Antim asked her sister to collect her belongings from the Games Village. Although her sister managed to enter, she was caught by the security while leaving.
Antim’s sister was then taken to a local police station to record her statement.
Antim, a 19-year-old junior world champion, was also summoned for a statement.
“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.
While IOA did not share what the disciplinary breach was, a source shared the details with news agency PTI.
“Instead of heading to the Games Village, she reached the hotel where her coach Bhagat Singh and sparring partner Vikas, who is actually her coach, were staying. Antim 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,” said the source.
The situation worsened when Antim’s personal support staff, Vikas and Bhagat, allegedly traveled in a cab while inebriated and refused to pay the fare, prompting the driver to call the police.
“We have left to fight fire,” fumed an IOA official.
When contacted, Vikas flatly refused their involvement in such an incident.
“Who told you this? Antim and her sister are sitting right before me,” said Vikas.