Paris Olympics: Indian Female Athlete Accused of 'Smuggling', Faces Deportation Hours After Losing Her Match

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In a surprising turn of events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Indian wrestler Antim Panghal found herself at the centre of a scandal that has left the sporting community in shock.

Late on Wednesday evening, Antim and her sister were summoned to the police station inside the Athletes' Village. The accusation? Allegedly attempting to 'smuggle' her sister into the heavily secured village, a clear violation of the strict Olympic protocols, reported Indian Express.

Details of the incident are shrouded in mystery, with sources hinting at the dramatic sequence of events that led to this accusation. Antim, who had just faced a crushing defeat in the 53 kg category, was reportedly distraught and accompanied by her sister and coaches back to their hotel. What happened next has raised eyebrows and questions about the measures taken by athletes to cope with the pressures of the Games.

According to an official statement from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Antim and her support staff are slated to be flown back to India following the disciplinary breach. The IOA statement confirmed, "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."

Further complicating matters, Antim's coaches, Bhagat Singh and Vikas, were also involved in a separate police incident. Allegedly, after taking a cab from the Village to their hotel, they refused to pay the driver and behaved aggressively before rushing into the hotel. The cab driver subsequently reported the incident to the police, adding another layer of controversy to the team's Olympic journey.

Antim's Olympic debut in the 53 kg category was already off to a rocky start. Facing Turkey's Zeynep Yetgil, she lost in a one-sided match that ended her medal hopes early. The 19-year-old wrestler, seen as a promising prospect for India, left the arena in tears, accompanied by her sister and coaches.

In a desperate bid to stay close to her sister, Antim reportedly passed her accreditation card to her sibling after successfully passing through the Village's security checkpoints. When her sister attempted to enter using the card, she was apprehended by security personnel, leading to the unfolding drama.

Late on Wednesday, both sisters were taken to the police station inside the Village. Sources indicate that the police have advised Indian team officials to arrange for their immediate departure from France. Efforts to reach the Indian contingent leaders for comment have so far been unsuccessful.