"My little sister rest in peace": Phogat family mourns the loss of cousin Ritika

Ritika Phogat, a cousin of champion wrestlers Geeta and Babita Phogat, died by suicide. The police said Ritika Phogat, 17, was believed to be upset at narrowly losing a wrestling tournament final. She had participated in a state-level competition at Bharatpur in Rajasthan between March 12 and 14."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. According to the police, she had been depressed about losing the final by one point.

भगवान रितिका की आत्मा को शांति दे। यह समय पूरे परिवार के लिए बहुत ही दुख की घड़ी है। आत्महत्या कोई समाधान नहीं है। हार और जीत दोनों जीवन के महत्वपूर्ण पहलू हैं। हारने वाला एक दिन जीतता भी जरूर है। संघर्ष ही सफलता की कुंजी है संघर्षों से घबराकर ऐसा कोई कदम नहीं उठाना चाहिए। pic.twitter.com/ecb4DztyC4

— Babita Phogat (@BabitaPhogat) 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

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

She was found dead at the home of her uncle and legendary wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat late Monday. Ritika had trained with Mahavir Phogat, a Dronacharya award winner who runs a sports academy. Geeta Phogat's post reflected the family's shock and grief. "May Ritika, my little sister, my cousin, rest in peace. This is a very tragic time for my family. Ritika was a very able wrestler...don't know why she did this. Winning and losing is a part of life and no one should take such a drastic step," she tweeted in Hindi. “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. Geeta and Babita had won gold and silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Geeta was the first female wrestler from India to win gold while Babita went on to win gold at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Their cousin Vinesh Phogat is the top ranked 53kg wrestler in the world and an Asian Games gold medallist. Vinesh is also a favourite to win a medal at this year’s Tokyo Olympics. Ritu won gold at the 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship before embarking on a career in mixed martial artist where she holds a 4-0 record in the ONE Championship. Bollywood even dedicated a blockbuster Dangal on the struggles and achievements of the Phogat siblings.