Antim Panghal’s sister detained after trying to enter Paris 2024 Olympics Village; entire entourage to be deported: Reports
Indian wrestler Antim Panghal’s sister Nisha was detained by the security of the Paris 2024 Olympics after she tried to enter the Olympic Village using Antim’s accreditations, media reports said.
Nisha was reportedly detained trying to enter the Olympic Village by impersonating her sister using her Paris 2024 accreditations. She was then handed over to Paris police, who took her to the Saint Denise police station.
Reports from media personnel said that Antim left the Paris 2024 Olympics Village soon after her loss in the opening round of the women’s 53kg freestyle event against Turkey’s Zeynep Yetgil. The 19-year-old wrestler then reportedly went to a hotel where her coach and sister were residing, wherein she allegedly requested Nisha to bring her belongings from her Olympic Village residence.
Accreditation canceled, deportation looming: What next for Antim Panghal and her sister?
After Nisha was caught trying to enter the Village without proper permission, Antim Panghal’s accreditation was reportedly canceled by the Paris 2024 authorities. The Parisian police also summoned the Asian Games bronze medalist to record her statement, the reports said.
As per media reports from ANI, the disciplinary breach committed by Antim and her sister was brought to the notice of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) by the French authorities. Unnamed IOA officials reached the Saint Denise police station to take cognizance of the issue.
Even though Antim's sister was not arrested by the police, the wrestler and her entire entourage is facing deportation from France to India because of the incident. ANI reported that the IOA has decided to fly back Antim and her support staff to India as punitive measures following the rule break.
However, the controversy surrounding her sister is not the only family drama that Antim Panghal will have to deal with, as her brother was also allegedly involved in a brawl with a taxi driver in Paris while in an inebriated state.
The entire fiasco will be another moment of embarrassment for Antim, as the wrestler suffered the ignominy of seeing her Paris 2024 Olympics journey crash and burn in less than two minutes in her opening match, in which she lost 0-10.