Tragedy Strikes Promising Basketball Career
A devastating accident cut short the life of a young sporting talent in Haryana on Tuesday. 16-year-old national-level basketball player Hardik Rathi lost his life when an iron basketball pole unexpectedly collapsed on him during practice at a sports complex in Rohtak's Lakhan Majra village.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The unfortunate event was captured on CCTV cameras at the sports ground, showing the moment the pole fell on the young athlete. Fellow players immediately rushed to his aid, lifting the heavy pole and quickly transporting him to a nearby hospital. Despite these efforts, Hardik succumbed to his injuries, unable to survive the impact of the accident.
Hardik Rathi was no ordinary player - he had represented Haryana in multiple sub-junior and youth national championships, building an impressive record at national events. His achievements included winning medals at the Sub-Junior Nationals held in Kangra and Hyderabad, as well as at the Youth Nationals in Puducherry.
Broader Concerns and Official Response
This tragedy has exposed critical gaps in sports infrastructure maintenance, particularly in rural areas of Haryana. According to reports, the Lakhan Majra sports facility, which falls under Gram Panchayat jurisdiction, had not undergone proper maintenance for nearly four years.
The incident becomes even more alarming as it occurred just two days after a similar case in Bahadurgarh, where another 15-year-old boy died under identical circumstances when a basketball pole fell on him during practice.
In response to the growing public outrage, Sports State Minister Gaurav Gautam suspended the District Sports Officer and ordered the temporary closure of the basketball court where the accident occurred. The administration has scheduled a high-level review meeting for November 28 at Tau Devilal Stadium to address these safety concerns.
The tragedy prompted an emotional response from Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, who posted on X: "A child stepped onto a court with joy and energy… and he never returned home." He described the pain as something no parent should ever endure and urged authorities to treat this tragedy as a crucial reminder about the importance of safeguarding sporting spaces.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has announced that he will seek a complete report on the matter, indicating the seriousness with which the state government is treating this incident that has shaken the sporting community across India.
