The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: Indian Olympic authorities decided to fly wrestler Antim Panghal back to India after she gave her accreditation card to her sister to help her enter the Olympic Village in Paris, as per an official statement cited by news reports.
“The Indian Olympic Association [IOA] 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 has been quoted as saying.
It reportedly added: “Antim Panghal gave her accreditation to her sister to help her enter the Games Village on her accreditation. French authorities complained to the IOA, and that’s why she will be sent back to India with her support staff.”
Local police advised Indian team officials that Antim and her sister be sent back to India on Thursday (August 8), the Indian Express reported.
News reports also said that Panghal’s two coaches allegedly travelled in a taxi in Paris and refused to pay the fare thereafter, following which their driver approached the police.
Earlier on Wednesday (August 7), the 19-year-old Panghal participated in the women’s 53 kg freestyle wrestling event but lost 10-0 to Turkey’s Zeynep Yetgil in the first round.
When Yegtil lost to Germany’s Annika Wendle in the next round, Panghal no longer had the opportunity to contest for a bronze medal through repechage.
Panghal secured a place in the 53 kg category in the Indian contingent last year upon winning bronze at the 2023 World Wrestling Championship.
Vinesh Phogat won bronze in the 53 kg category in the 2022 edition of the world championship but did not return the next year due to a knee injury.
Phogat made it to the Indian Olympic wrestling contingent this year in the 50 kg category but was disqualified yesterday after being found to weigh a little over the permissible limit.
She was otherwise set to face the US’s Sarah Hildebrandt in the category’s final match and was guaranteed at least a silver medal.
On her way to the final, Phogat prevailed over Japan’s Yui Susaki in a 3-2 shock defeat for the latter.
The Asian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who helmed protests against former Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh last year, awaits the results of an appeal against her disqualification to the Court of Arbitration for Sports, PTI reported, adding that her team has asked she be awarded a silver jointly with Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez.
Yesterday, Phogat indicated on X that she may quit wrestling.