Ritika Phogat, a 17-year-old cousin of Geeta and Babita Phogat died by committing suicide on Wednesday. On Wednesday after returning from a wrestling tournament from Bharatpur, she committed suicide. She was participating in the State-level sub-junior and junior women’s tournaments. She committed suicide after she lost her final round of matches at Bharatpur in a championship from March 12 to 14.
District Superintendent of Police, Ram Singh Bishnoi 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. The investigation is underway”.
Ritika was a native of Jaipur Rajasthan and was currently staying at her uncle Dronacharya awardee Mahavir Singh Phogat in Charkhi Dadri’s Balali village. She was learning wrestling at the Mahavir Phogat Sports Academy in Charkhi Dadri. She hung herself with the ceiling fan at her uncle’s house since she was saddened by losing the match to her opponent just by one point in the final round.
Another sister of Phogat’s, Ritu Phogat tweeted on her Twitter handle, “Rest in Peace Choti Behen Ritika. I still can’t believe what just happened with you Will miss you forever Om Shanti”. She also added, “I have been receiving messages all morning today. I am very sad and disturbed about what happened in my family. I urge people to not spread and believe in any rumors and act responsibly. These are tough times for me and my family and I urge you all to respect our privacy.”
I have been getting messages all morning today. I am very sad and disturbed about what happened in my family. I urge people to not spread and believe in any rumours and act responsibly. These are tough times for me and my family and I urge you all to respect our privacy.
— Ritu phogat (@PhogatRitu) March 18, 2021
भगवान मेरी छोटी बहन मेरे मामा की लड़की रितिका की आत्मा को शांति दे। मेरे परिवार के लिए बहुत ही दुख की घड़ी है। रितिका बहुत ही होनहार पहलवान थी पता नहीं क्यों उसने ऐसा कदम उठाया। हार-जीत खिलाड़ी के जीवन का हिस्सा होता है हमें ऐसा कोई क़दम नहीं उठाना चाहिये 🙏😢 pic.twitter.com/RQFhM1jVpi
— geeta phogat (@geeta_phogat) March 18, 2021
Vijay Kumar Singh, Minister of State for Transport and Highways also tweeted about the loss of Ritika’s life. He mentioned, ” Terrible news that we lost #RitikaPhogat who had a brilliant career ahead. The world has changed from where it was some decades ago. Athletes are facing pressures that were not there earlier. An essential part of their training should be to deal with these pressures.”
Terrible news that we lost #RitikaPhogat who had a brilliant career ahead. The world has changed from where it was some decades ago. Athletes are facing pressures which were not there earlier. An essential part of their training should be to deal with these pressures.
— Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) March 18, 2021
