Highlights:
- Wrestler Ritika Phogat died on Monday
- Ritika Phogat was Geeta Phogat’s sister and reportedly trained by Mahavir Singh Phogat
- Police suspects Ritika committed suicide
The 17 year old Ritika Phogat who was the cousin of champion wrestlers Geeta and Babita Phogat died on Monday and on Thursday the Haryana Police said they suspect she committed suicide.
The police said that Ritika Phogat was upset at losing a wrestling tournament final by whiskers.
She had participated in a state-level competition at Bharatpur between the 12th and 14th of March.
Ritika Phogat was found dead at her uncle’s home who is the legendary wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat. According to the police, she had been depressed about losing the final by just a single point difference.
Both her father and Mahavir Phogat were present at the tournament.
Ram Singh Bishnoi who is the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Charkhi Dadri said, “Ritika, wrestler and cousin of Babita Phogat, died allegedly by suicide on March 17. The reason behind it might have been her defeat at a recent wrestling tournament in Rajasthan,” as he spoke to news agency ANI.
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He also said, “Investigations are underway”.
Harvindra Phogat, who is Ritika’s cousin said that the family is in a state of shock and never realised that she was deeply affected by her loss at the wrestling tournament finale.
Ritika Phogat, reportedly, trained with Mahavir Singh Phogat whos is a Dronacharya award-winning wrestler.
Mahavir Phogat’s life and the story of how he trained his daughters Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat inspired the 2016 Aamir Khan blockbuster movie “Dangal”.
He now runs the Mahavir Phogat Sports Academy, where Ritika was a student.
Geeta Phogat who is the eldest daughter of Mahavir Singh Phogat was the first Indian women wrestler to have won a gold medal in wrestling at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and went on to become the first Indian woman wrestler who was able to qualify for the Olympics in 2012.
Babita Phogat, Geet’s younger sister, won silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, a bronze medal at the 2012 World Wrestling Championships.
Babita also won a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games which were held in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
