New Delhi: Antim Panghal and her support staff will be flown back from Paris following a disciplinary breach, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) informed late on Wednesday.
“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,” IOA said in a statement.
The IOA is trying to arrange flight tickets for Thursday morning, according to reports.
This is a second blow to India’s wrestling campaign in Paris Olympics in a day after Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification ahead of the summit clash in 50kg category after being found overweight.
World Championships bronze medallist Antim had earlier bowed out of the 53kg competition, which was Vinesh’s original weight category, after a humiliating 0-10 defeat to Turkey’s Yetgil Zeynep. She was outclassed in 101 seconds in the first round.
After losing the bout, 19-year-old wrestler from Haryana went to the hotel where her coach and sister, Nisha, were staying. She then asked her sister to collect her belongings from the Games Village and handed her the Olympic accreditation. While Nisha managed to enter the Olympic Games Village, she was detained while leaving by the security officer, who even called the cops.
Following which, the authorities cancelled her accreditation and decided to deport Antim’s entire entourage. “The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officials spoke to the cops and requested them not detain Antim’s sister. They agreed and she was sent back to hotel. All of them have been asked not to venture out of the hotel room. Antim and others involved in the incident are expected to be sent back home tonight (Wednesday night),” TNIE reported, quoting a source.
The wrestler had also gone missing from the Village on Tuesday. “She missed the evening training session. No wonder despite being World No 4, she lost the first bout to World No 12 wrestler 10-0 (technical superiority),” another sources told the daily.
If this was not enough, a cab driver had also called cops after Antim’s personal support staff — Vikas and Bhagat — refused to pay the fare after a ride in an alleged inebriated state, the NDTV reported.
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