Haryana's Sports Infrastructure Under Fire After Twin Tragedies
In a devastating 48-hour period, the state of Haryana was shaken by the horrific deaths of two teenage basketball players. These separate but tragically similar accidents, occurring in Rohtak and Bahadurgarh, saw heavy basketball hoop poles collapse onto the young athletes, turning their courts into scenes of tragedy and casting a harsh spotlight on the state's sports infrastructure and governance.
The incidents have prompted immediate government action, including the suspension of a district sports officer and the announcement of a high-level meeting to address safety failures.
A Nation's Hope Crushed in Nine Seconds
The gravity of the situation was captured in a heart-wrenching nine-second CCTV clip from Lakhan Majra, near Rohtak. The video shows 16-year-old Hardik Rathi, a five-time state player who had been selected for the U-17 School Nationals in Chhattisgarh, running in from the three-point line during a practice session on Tuesday.
In a move familiar to any player, he simulated a dunk and grabbed the hoop. The grainy footage then captures the moment of horror as his eyes widen, the 750kg pole snaps, and comes crashing down, crushing his ribs. Fellow players rushed to his aid and took him to a hospital, where he was declared 'brought dead'.
Hardik was a rising star with a proven track record. He had won a silver medal at the 47th Sub-Junior National Basketball Championship in Kangra, a bronze at the 49th Sub-Junior Nationals in Hyderabad, and another bronze at the 39th Youth National Championship in Puducherry. His future was so bright that he had already signed with a club in the United States.
A Warning Ignored: A Second Life Lost
Tragically, Hardik's death was preceded by another that served as a grim warning. Just two days earlier, on Sunday afternoon, 15-year-old Aman, a Class 10 student, met a similar fate at the Shaheed Brigadier Hoshiar Singh stadium in Bahadurgarh, located about 65km from Lakhan Majra.
While practicing, a corroded and dilapidated basketball pole gave way and crashed onto his abdomen, causing severe internal injuries. He was initially taken to the civil hospital and then referred to PGI-Rohtak. His family has alleged that delay and negligence in treatment worsened his condition. The boy succumbed to his injuries on Monday night, with his last rites performed on Tuesday evening—the same day Lakhan Majra was mourning Hardik.
Anger, Accountability, and Promised Reforms
In the aftermath, there is palpable anguish and anger in Lakhan Majra, with villagers and sportspersons labeling the incidents 'avoidable tragedies'. They revealed that the lack of maintenance was a long-standing issue. Four years ago, then Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda had sanctioned Rs 11 lakh from his MPLAD fund for the stadium, but the work was stalled for years due to tender formalities.
A delegation had even met Chief Minister Nayab Saini about three months ago, and the tender was finally floated only last week—a move that came too late for Hardik.
The political backlash has been severe. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda accused the BJP government of treating sports and athletes 'like enemies', holding government negligence directly responsible for the two deaths.
In response to the public outcry, the state administration has sprung into action:
- District Sports Officer Anoop Singh has been suspended.
- A committee has been formed to probe the incident and audit sports equipment at the Lakhan Majra stadium, which falls under the village panchayat.
- Police have seized the CCTV footage and initiated action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
- The Haryana Olympic Association has announced that no sports events will be held in the state for the next three days.
- Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam has called a high-level meeting on November 28 at Panchkula's Tau Devi Lal Stadium with all district sports officers to review accountability and safety protocols.
Perhaps the most significant directive has come from the sports department, which has ordered the immediate removal of all rusted, old, and dangerous equipment across Haryana. A circular issued by the director general has directed all sports officers and deputy directors in regions including Ambala, Hisar, Rohtak, and Gurgaon to carry out urgent inspections and dismantle unsafe structures without delay.
