Ritika Phogat, cousin of Geeta & Babita, allegedly kills self

TIL Desk Sports/ Rajasthan wrestler Ritika Phogat, cousin of Commonwealth Games gold medallists Geeta and Babita Phogat, allegedly killed herself after finishing second in the 53kg category of the state sub-junior competition, said an official of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

She died on Monday. The competition was held at a local stadium in Bharatpur, Rajasthan from March 12 to 14. Ritika, 17, was one of of four competitors and she lost the gold medal round. She too wanted to win a medal at the international level like her cousins but went into depression after losing the gold medal bout in the state meet,” said the official.

After post-mortem, the body was handed over to her parents and last rites were performed at the family village near Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. Ritika had been training at the academy run by her uncle and Dronacharya Awardee Mahavir Phogat, father of Geeta, Babita and mixed martial artist Ritu Phogat, near Charkhi Dadri in Haryana for the past five years. Ritika was the daughter of Mahavir’s brother-in-law, thus making her a maternal first cousin to Geeta, Babita and Ritu.