‘Leave me alone,’ Antim Panghal refuses to comment on Olympic controversy; Coach says she’s scared

Paris: A distressed Antim Panghal was heard saying, "Please leave me alone, I want to go back home," as she and her team boarded an Air India flight to New Delhi on Thursday evening. The flight marked the end of a controversial Olympic campaign that saw Panghal, making her debut in the women's 53kg wrestling category, ousted in the opening round and facing potential disciplinary action.

Panghal’s Olympic journey was marred by controversy following her defeat to Turkey's Yetgil Zeynep. The wrestler, who had high hopes for her debut, was thrust into the spotlight on Wednesday due to a “disciplinary breach” involving her entourage, including her younger sister, Nisha. Sporting her Team India jersey, Panghal, accompanied by four team members, conducted a quiet check-in at Terminal 2C of Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport before boarding Air India Flight 142. The flight reportedly landed in New Delhi at 9:29 AM on Friday.

When approached for comments on the controversy, Panghal declined to speak and hurried through security checkpoints. One of her coaches intervened, stating, “Woh dari hui hai baat nahi karegi” (She's scared and won’t talk).

The troubles began after Panghal's 0-10 loss to Zeynep, which led to an incident involving her accreditation card. Allegedly, Panghal handed her card to her sister, Nisha, to collect her belongings from the Games Village. However, Nisha was stopped by security at the Village, leading to both sisters being taken to a police station within the Village premises late Wednesday evening.

In addition, Panghal’s support team, including coaches Bhagat Singh and Vikas, faced a separate issue. They reportedly refused to pay a cab fare and engaged in inappropriate behaviour with the driver before retreating into their accommodation. The cab driver subsequently reported the incident to the police.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) responded by deciding to fly Panghal and her support staff back to India after the disciplinary breach was reported by French authorities. An IOA statement confirmed that the organisation is considering a three-year ban for Panghal and those involved, though no decision has been finalised yet.

According to sources, the IOA discussed the issue, which had caused significant embarrassment, and is contemplating a three-year ban on everyone involved, including the coaches. “First, we need to ensure that she reaches home. The decision will be announced only after she reaches India,” a source from the Indian contingent told PTI.

However, the IOA has clarified that no ban has been imposed as of now. An official statement from the IOA noted, “A ban has not been imposed as yet.”

In a widely-shared video, Panghal addressed the situation, stating that she went to the police station only for the verification of her accreditation card. She explained, “It was not a good day for me. I lost. A lot is being spread about me, that's not true. I had high fever and had taken permission from my coach to go to the hotel with my sister. I needed some of my belongings from the Games Village, and my sister took my card to ask if she could collect them. This led to her being taken to the police station for accreditation verification.”

Panghal also denied allegations that her coaches were intoxicated and had a dispute with a taxi driver over fare. “My coaches had stayed back at the venue, and when they wanted to return, we booked a cab for them. They didn’t have enough cash, which, coupled with language barriers, led to an argument with the taxi driver. Since they needed to collect some Euros from the hotel room, it took some time and led to the situation,” she explained. “I’ve had a tough time already, so please don’t spread rumours. Please support me.”

Panghal’s Olympic campaign, marked by both personal and professional challenges, has become a subject of intense scrutiny, reflecting the pressures faced by athletes on the global stage. PTI