Indian wrestling fans woke up to a shocking development on Thursday as the news of Ritika Phogat’s alleged death by suicide broke out to the public. 

Ritika was the cousin sister of Indian wrestling champions Geeta and Babita Phogat and allegedly took her own life by hanging from a ceiling fan on March 17.

Ritika, who was playing the state-level sub-junior, junior women, and men wrestling tournament, lost the final round. 

The final was played on March 14 and she lost the match by just one point.

© Geeta Phogat Instagram

She was being trained by Dronacharya Awardee Mahavir Singh Phogat, who was also present at the tournament. 

Ritika had been learning and practising wrestling for more than five years at the Mahavir Phogat Sports Academy in Haryana.

Rest in Peace choti behen Ritika. I still can't believe what just happened with you Will miss you forever Om Shanti 🥺🏼 pic.twitter.com/LiLum1kbYB

— Ritu phogat (@PhogatRitu) March 18, 2021

Haryana's Charkhi Dadri 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. Investigation underway.”

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

Vijay Kumar Singh, Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways took to Twitter and confirmed the news by saying, “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.”

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

Here’s what shocked people on social media had to say about the sad demise of the young talent:

So long we applaud success and mourn failure, this will continue sir!
Some may commit suicide but majority live a stressful life due to fear of failure!
Karmanye vaidhika raste Maan phaleshu kadachana

— Dr Narain Rupani (@DrRupani) March 18, 2021

And to teach all our kids that losing is okay.we celebrate victories so much that we forget to acknowledge or appreciate failures which is an imp part of our life too.I see cricketers being tortured for bad days so much criticism that can hurt them Where are we going with this

— Preeti Shetty (@PreetiS40700029) March 18, 2021

Sad

— Amit shahi Rajput (@imAshahi7) March 18, 2021

With you in prayers..🏼��️ Shanti

— Roshali (@itsRoshali) March 18, 2021

Rip

— Ayush Shahu (@Ayush26713031) March 18, 2021

Meanwhile, Geeta and Ritu Phogat took to social media to mourn the passing of their sister.

“May my younger sister give peace to the soul of my maternal uncle’s girl Ritika. It is a very sad time for my family. Ritika was a very promising wrestler, I do not know why she took such a step. Winning and losing is a part of a player’s life. We should not take any such step,” Geeta Phogat tweeted. 

“Rest in Peace choti behen Ritika. I still can’t believe what just happened with you Will miss you forever. Om Shanti,”  Ritu Phogat tweeted.

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