While Indians have still not moved on from Vinesh Phogat's controversy, the country has been jolted with another row when wrestler Antim Panghal and her entourage were asked to leave Paris. Antim Panghal was representing India at the Paris Olympics 2024 in the women's 53 kg category. However, recently, Antim Panghal suffered a major defeat by 0-10 defeat to Turkey's Yetgil Zeynep in the first round, meaning her Olympics journey was already over. It was the same category in which wrestler Vinesh Phogat used to fight in the previous year's Olympics. Antim Panghal's trip to Paris became even more distressing when she was summoned by French Police to the Village that had been prepared for athletes participating in the Paris Olympics. Apart from French authorities asking for her deportation back to India, Antim Panghal's accreditation was also canceled. Now, the question arises as to why Antim Panghal along with her entire staff are getting deported. Below is what we know so far-
Why Antim Panghal & her staff are getting deported from Paris?
IOA in its official statement said, "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."
Talking about Antim Panghal's deportation reason, reports suggest that the wrestler faced such disciplinary action after her sister Nisha used the Indian wrestler's accreditation to enter the Olympic Games Village during the Paris Olympics 2024 but was detained by the police. The French police questioned Nisha but she was released after some time.
As per reports, after her defeat, Antim went to the hotel, where her designated coach Bhagat Singh and actual coach Vikas, who is also her coach, were put up. Therefore, the Indian wrestler asked her sister to go to the Games Village and collect her belongings. While her sister Nisha managed to enter the Village, she was caught by the security officer while leaving.
After being caught at the Village, Nisha taken to a local police station to record her statement and Antim was also called by the police to record her statement.
Furthermore, another ugly incident came to the fore. Antim Panghal's personal support staff named Vikas and Bhagat have allegedly travelled in an inebriated state in a cab and refused to pay the fare after which the driver called the cops. This also played a major factor in why the French authorities asked the IOA to deport Antim Panghal and her support staff back to India.