Wrestler Ritika was a cousin of Indian wrestling champions Babita and Geeta Phogat. According to the police, the 17-year-old wrestler died allegedly by suicide. She was training at the Mahavir Phogat Sports Academy in Haryana.
According to Haryana Police, Ritika took her own life by hanging herself from a ceiling fan at the house of her uncle, Dronacharya awardee Mahavir Phogat. Prima facie the police, as well as the Phogat household, believe that Ritika took the extreme step as she was upset over losing the final of a state-level junior wrestling tournament by one point. The championship was organized at Lohagarh Stadium in Bharatpur, Rajasthan from March 12 to 14. Mahavir Phogat had accompanied Ritika to Bharatpur and came back to Balali with her.
Narrating the turn of events, a member of the Phogat household in Balali told TOI, “Ritika and Mahavir Ji had gone to Bharatpur for the tournament. She did well but lost in the final to a Rajasthan wrestler by one point. The tournament ended on March 14 and both came back to Balali by car during the day on March 15. Later that night, Ritika hanged herself with a dupatta.”
“When she came back, she was very upset over the loss. When you have sisters who are super achievers in wrestling, it is possible that one feels the pressure to attain similar fame,” said a family member.
“Investigation into Ritika Phogat’s death is underway,” said Ram Singh Bishnoi, the DSP of Charkhi Dadri.
Ritika was the daughter of Mahavir Phogat’s wife Daya Kaur’s brother. She had been staying with her uncle and training under him for the last four years.
Ritika’s cousin sisters expressed shock and were distraught over her death.
“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,” Geeta, who is training at the national camp and preparing for the Asian Olympic qualifiers,
“May she rest in peace. Suicide is not the solution. Both defeat and victory are important aspects of life. The loser also wins one day. The struggle is the key to success, no such step should be taken by being afraid of the struggles of life,” Babita said.
“I am very sad and disturbed about what has happened in my family. I urge people to not spread and believe in any rumors and act responsibly. These are tough times for us and I request you all to respect our privacy,” Ritu, an MMA fighter who is in Singapore at present, tweeted.
Ritika’s brother-in-law (husband of Sangeeta Phogat) and star Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia also expressed his sorrow at her death. “Winning and losing is part and parcel of sports. If you’re an athlete, you have to accept this. You win some, you lose some. She was very young, what she did was a mistake,” Punia said.
Ritika is survived by her father Manipal, mother Monika, and four younger siblings (two brothers and two sisters), who stay in Jaitpur village in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district. She was due to give her Class XII board exams in the first week of May from Vivekanand Memorial Public School, founded by Mahavir Phogat near his home village.
