Wrestler Ritika Phogat was found dead in her uncle Mahavir Singh Phogat’s house, police said on Thursday. She died by suicide, according to posts shared by her cousins Geeta and Babita Phogat. She was 17.
A native of Rajasthan’s Jaipur village, Ritika was staying with Mahavir Singh Phogat, her uncle and Dronacharya award-winning coach, in Charkhi Dadri’s Balali village under Jhojhu Kalan police station for the past four years, Station House Officer Dilbagh Singh was quoted as saying by PTI.
Ritika was training at the Mahavir Phogat Sports Academy in Charkhi Dadri.
Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri District Superintendent of Police Ram Singh Bishnoi said police have started their investigation into her death, according to India Today.
Wrestling star Geeta Phogat described Ritika, her maternal sister, as a talented wrestler.
“It’s a very sad moment for my family. Ritika was a talented wrestler and I don’t know why she took such a step. Victory and defeat are a part of an athlete’s life. We should never take such a step,” she said in a tweet in Hindi.
Her sister Babita said that suicide is not a solution and that victories and defeats are a part of life.
Former Union minister Vijay Kumar Singh also took to Twitter to condole Ritika’s death.
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