Paris Olympics: Indian Wrestler and Team to be Deported After Incident with Accreditation Card

Antim Panghal's sister, Nisha, was detained for attempting to use his accreditation card to gain entry into the Olympic Village during the Paris Olympics

Muhammad NasirAugust 8, 2024

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Paris Olympics: Indian Wrestler and Team to be Deported After Incident with Accreditation Card

Paris: Indian wrestler Antim Panghal has been expelled from the Paris Olympics following an incident where his sister was caught using his accreditation card to enter the Olympic Village.

French authorities identified the breach of discipline, leading the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to decide to recall Antim Panghal and his team from Paris. According to NDTV Sports, Panghal and his team will be deported from the event.

Antim Panghal’s sister, Nisha, was detained for attempting to use his accreditation card to gain entry into the Olympic Village during the Paris Olympics. However, she was released after being questioned by the police. In response, Olympic authorities suspended Panghal’s accreditation and decided to expel his entire team.

Prior to this incident, Antim Panghal had faced a significant defeat in the women’s 53 kg category, losing 0-10 to Turkey’s Zeynep Yetgil.

The Indian Olympic Association issued a statement noting that the breach of discipline reported by French authorities led to the decision to send Panghal and his team back. The 19-year-old junior world champion, Panghal, along with his sister, was summoned by the police for questioning.

Additionally, members of Panghal’s support staff, Vikas and Bhagat, faced police action for allegedly traveling in a taxi under the influence and failing to pay the fare.

An official from the Indian Olympic Association commented, “We are currently facing difficulties. The situation is extremely concerning, and our security officer is trying to manage it. There is a possibility that the wrestler and his team may be deported.”

Earlier, the defeat of Turkish wrestler Zeynep Yetgil by Germany’s Annika Wendle in the quarter-finals shattered Panghal’s dream of competing for a bronze medal via a wild card entry. Panghal, who won a bronze medal at the World Championships, was among the wrestlers who had secured an Olympic quota in the category of Vinesh Phogat but faced an early exit, losing in 101 seconds in the first round.

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