In a major controversy at the Paris Olympics 2024, the organisers cancelled Indian wrestler Antim Panghal's accreditation after a disciplinary breach on Wednesday, August 7. Antim was summoned by Paris Police after her sister was caught using her accreditation card to enter the athletes' village.
The 19-year-old Indian wrestler lost her opening women's 53kg round on Wednesday and suffered an early elimination in her debut Olympics. After the event, she went to the team hotel to meet her coach and sparring partner and sent her sister Nisha to collect her belongings from the athletes' village.
Police caught Antim's sister while using her accreditation card and detained her. She was allowed to leave only after an intervention from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The IOA has asked Antim and her entourage to leave Paris on the next flight for India tomorrow morning.
"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," the IOA statement said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Antim suffered a huge 0-10 loss against Zeynep Yetgil of Turkey in her first bout. She missed out on a repechage after Zeynep Yetgil stormed into the finals to claim a silver medal.
India's wrestling camp suffered further disappointment after Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from her medal event on Wednesday. Vinesh weighed 100 gms more than her 50kg category and was denied a silver in a major shock for the Indian contingent.
India has claimed just three bronze medals, all in shooting, at the 33rd Summer Games and finds itself in the 67th position in the medals standings at the end of Day 12's events. India has two golden chances at a medal on Thursday as the men's hockey team takes on Spain in the bronze medal match and the ace javelin thrower looks to defend his gold in the men's javelin final.
