Wrestler Ritika Phogat, Geeta Phogat's Cousin, Dies. Cops Suspect Suicide

Ritika Phogat had reportedly trained with Mahavir Singh Phogat, a Dronacharya award-winning wrestler.

Ritika Phogat, a cousin of champion wrestlers Geeta and Babita Phogat, died on Monday, allegedly by suicide, the Haryana police said on Thursday. The police said Ritika Phogat, 17, was upset at narrowly losing a wrestling tournament final. She participated in a state-level competition at Bharatpur between March 12 and 14. She was found dead at the home of her uncle, legendary wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat. According to the police, she had been depressed about losing the final by one point. Both her father and Mahavir Phogat had been present at the tournament. "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. Investigations are underway," Ram Singh Bishnoi, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Charkhi Dadri, told news agency ANI.