Haryana Government Takes Action Following Tragic Athlete Deaths
The Haryana government has removed two senior sports department officials in response to the heartbreaking deaths of two young basketball players. This decisive action comes less than a week after separate incidents where rusted iron poles supporting basketball hoops collapsed, claiming the lives of promising athletes.
New Leadership Appointed for Sports Department
In a significant administrative reshuffle announced on Sunday, the state government appointed Vijay Singh Dahiya, a 2001 batch IAS officer, as the new commissioner of the sports department. He replaces 1994 batch IPS officer Navdeep Singh Virk. Mr. Dahiya will continue handling his existing responsibilities for the animal husbandry department as well as printing and stationery.
Simultaneously, the government appointed Parth Gupta, a 2013 batch IAS officer, as the new director of sports, replacing 2004 batch IAS officer Sanjeev Verma. Mr. Gupta has also been given additional charge as director of tourism, indicating the government's comprehensive approach to administrative efficiency.
Tragic Incidents That Prompted Changes
The administrative changes directly follow two devastating accidents that shocked the sports community across Haryana. On November 25, 2025, 16-year-old national-level basketball player Hardik Rathee lost his life in Rohtak district's Lakhan Mazra village when a basketball post collapsed on him.
In a similarly tragic incident just one day earlier, Aman, a 15-year-old basketball enthusiast, succumbed to his injuries during treatment at PGIMS Rohtak. Both young athletes fell victim to deteriorating sports infrastructure that featured rusted iron poles unable to withstand regular use.
Broader Administrative Reshuffle Across Departments
The sports department changes were part of a larger transfer and posting order involving 20 IAS officers across various departments in Haryana. Among other significant appointments, Amit Gupta Agrawal has been given charge as commissioner of the heritage and tourism department, replacing IPS officer Kala Ramachandran.
Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Arun Kumar Gupta, will now additionally handle the urban local bodies department and serve as member secretary of the Kurukshetra Development Board. The government also appointed Ashok Kumar Meena, a 2006 batch IAS officer, as director general of the urban local bodies department.
Other key appointments include Ravi Prakash Gupta as the new commissioner of Hisar division, Preeti (2015 batch IAS) as deputy commissioner of Yamunanagar, and Mahender Pal as deputy commissioner of Hisar. The administration also named Aparajit (2018 batch IAS) as deputy commissioner of Kaithal and Pardeep Kumar (2011 batch) as director of the state transport department.
This comprehensive reshuffle demonstrates the state government's commitment to addressing administrative concerns while ensuring better governance across multiple departments, with particular emphasis on improving sports infrastructure and safety standards following recent tragedies.
