Paris Olympics 2024: IOA Refutes Reports Of Wrestler Antim Panghal To Get Three-Year Ban For Indiscipline At Games

Paris: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has quashed all claims that said wrestler Antim Panghal will get a three-year ban after she caused embarrassment to the Indian Olympic contingent by trying to facilitate her sister’s entry into the Games village through her accreditation card. Panghal had crashed out of the Paris Olympics 2024 after losing her opening bout in the women’s 53kg category on Wednesday.

“IMPORTANT: IOA refutes reports that a ban has been imposed on wrestler Antim. It requests media persons to please check with the IOA leadership before posting such reports,” IOA official X handle posted, quoting a PTI post. Meanwhile, the IOA decided to send Antim  and her support staff back to India after the disciplinary breach was brought to its notice by the French authorities.

“Her sister was caught for impersonation and was taken to a police station to record her statement,” a source had revealed last night The decision will be formally announced after she reaches India,” the contingent source said told news agency PTI.

 

Breaking!

Indian wrestler Antim Panghal’s sister is detained by Paris Police while Antim’s accreditation is revoked.

She is expected to be flown back after her sister illegally entered Olympic village using Antim’s accreditation card.

What our IOC administrators are doing… pic.twitter.com/KaaIaxx0s9

— Veena Jain (@DrJain21) August 8, 2024

“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 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 19-year-old U20 world champion Antim was also called by police to record her statement. 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.

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.