'Reports about my sister or me being detained in Paris are false': Antim Panghal clears air on deportation controversy

India wrestler Antim Panghal

India grappler Antim Panghal's hopes of an Olympic glory vanquished in 101 seconds as she endured a 0-10 loss against Turkey's Yetgil Zeynep in the opening round of women's 53kg freestyle wrestling. While the outcome on the mat was disappointing, Antim's problems didn't stop as reports emerged of her sister Nisha using the wrestler's accreditation to enter the Olympic Village in Paris and was detained by the French police.

It was also learnt that Antim's coaches Bhagat Singh and Vikas got into a problem with a local cab driver. The reports mentioned that the duo were travelling in an inebriated state and refused to pay the fare, following which the driver called the cops.

Following the fiasco, it emerged that Antim and her entourage would be deported from Paris. "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 said in a statement.

However, in a video message Antim tried clearing the air on the controversy and appealed people to stop spreading "misinformation."

Also Read: India’s disappointing campaign in Paris 2024 seeks solace from Neeraj Chopra in javelin final

She started with the information related to her accreditation card.

“I want to clarify that the reports about my sister or me being detained by police in Paris are false, nothing of this sort happened.”

“Yesterday I fell extremely sick after losing the bout and had high fever. So my sister, who was staying in a hotel asked me to come there. I  took the permission from my coach, which he allowed.

"After coming to the hotel, I needed my belongings, which were at the Olympic Village. But as I was not feeling well I slept and my sister took my accreditation card and went to the Village.

“Upon reaching there she informed that this is my sister’s accreditation card and she is unwell, so can I collect her belongings from the Village. The officials took the accreditation card and took her to the police station for verification. I was not taken to the police station, only my sister went. And that too just to verify the accreditation, following which she was asked to go and was handed over the accreditation card."

Paris Olympics 2024: Did controversies outshine the games this year?

Antim then addressed the controversy involving his coaches and the cab driver.

“They are also saying that the coach fought with a cab driver. This didn’t happen at all, when I lost the bout, even the coach was extremely upset. While I came to the hotel, he stayed at the Village and we booked a cab for him till the hotel.

“The problem escalated due to language barrier. After reaching the hotel, the coaches didn't have enough Euro and informed the cab driver to allow them to go to the room and bring it. However, both parties had problems understanding each other and in the meantime one coach came up to the room. It took him almost five minutes to return back with Euro, so due to this there was a fight between the coaches and the cab driver."