Fact Check: Was Antim Panghal arrested by French Police at Paris Olympics 2024?

Antim Panghal lost her opening bout against Turkish wrestler.

Recent reports claiming Indian wrestler Antim Panghal and her sister were arrested by French police during the Paris Olympics 2024 have been debunked by the athlete herself. In a video statement released Thursday, Panghal clarified the situation and dismissed the rumors circulating about her alleged detention.

Panghal, who competed in the women’s 53kg wrestling category, lost her opening bout on Wednesday. Following her defeat, stories began spreading that she and her sister had been arrested for misusing an Olympic accreditation card.

Setting the record straight, Panghal explained what actually occurred:

“After I lost my bout, I got a fever. My sister, who was staying at a hotel, wanted to take me there. I got permission from my coaches to go with her because I wasn’t feeling well,” Panghal said.

She continued, “When I got to the hotel, I realized I needed some of my things from the Olympic Village. Since I was unwell, I asked my sister to get them for me.”

Panghal’s sister took the wrestler’s accreditation card to the Olympic Village. When she asked officials if she could collect Panghal’s belongings, they took the card and brought her to a police station for identity verification.

“This was the only reason she was taken to the police station. I wasn’t taken there,” Panghal clarified. She added that her sister was released and returned with the accreditation card once the verification was complete.

The wrestler also addressed rumors about her coaches getting into an altercation with a cab driver. She explained that a minor misunderstanding occurred due to a language barrier and a delay in payment, but emphasized that it wasn’t a significant incident.

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Panghal urged the public and media to stop spreading false information, stating, “I request all of you to not spread rumors, as my time here has already been difficult.”

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has also refuted claims of a three-year ban being imposed on Panghal. They advised media outlets to verify information with IOA leadership before publishing such reports.

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