Indian wrestler Antim Panghal’s Olympic journey ended in controversy and embarrassment for the country after she was caught facilitating her sister’s entry into the athletes’ village using her accreditation card. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, resulted in both Panghal and her sister being summoned by the police.
Panghal, a world championship bronze medalist, was eliminated from the competition after losing her opening bout in the 53 kg freestyle category. Following her defeat, she allegedly gave her accreditation card to her younger sister, Nisha, and sent her to the Games Village to collect her belongings. However, Nisha was stopped by security personnel, leading to the involvement of the police.
Panghal claimed that she was unwell and that the incident was a result of confusion. However, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) took a serious view of the matter and decided to fly Panghal and her support staff back home.
The incident has cast a shadow over India’s participation in the Olympics and raised questions about the conduct of its athletes. The IOA has promised to take disciplinary action against Panghal for violating the rules inside the athletes’ village.
In addition to the accreditation card incident, Panghal’s support team, comprising coaches Bhagat Singh and Vikas, were also involved in a separate matter involving a Parisian taxi driver and the police. They allegedly refused to pay the cab fare and behaved inappropriately with the driver before retreating inside. The cab driver later reported the incident to the police.
The controversies surrounding Panghal and her support staff have tarnished India’s reputation at the Olympics and raised concerns about the behavior of its athletes. The IOA has a responsibility to ensure that its athletes adhere to the rules and regulations of the Games and to uphold the country’s image on the international stage.
