Dreams Cut Short: The Tragic End of Two Basketball Prodigies
In a devastating turn of events that has shaken the Indian basketball community, two young talents from Haryana met with fatal accidents during routine practice sessions. Hardik Rathi, 16, from Lakhan Majra, and Aman Kumar, 15, from Bahadurgarh, both aspiring to represent India in basketball, lost their lives in separate incidents involving collapsing sports equipment.
The Promising Career of Hardik Rathi
At the Rathi household in Lakhan Majra, the neatly arranged medals on the shelf stand as silent testimony to a life cut tragically short. Sixteen-year-old Hardik, who meticulously dusted his achievements every week, had confidently told his father just a day before the accident that he would "play for India in 2026."
Hardik had already begun making his mark on the national basketball scene. He was studying at ITM Global School in Gwalior under a programme sponsored by the Basketball Federation of India. However, in a touching display of family devotion, the teenager had requested a leaving certificate from school on November 21 to return home to Rohtak because his mother was unwell.
Since returning home, Hardik had been living and training in Rohtak, preparing for the upcoming Under-17 Nationals scheduled for later this month. His dedication to both family and sport reflected the character of a remarkable young athlete.
The Fatal Practice Session
The tragedy unfolded during what should have been a routine dunk practice session. Witnesses described how Hardik attempted the standard drill where players try to touch the rim to measure their vertical jump. He missed his first attempt but successfully touched the ring on his second try. His hand accidentally gripped the net, pulling him off balance and causing him to fall backwards. The young athlete never recovered from the fall.
Aman Kumar's Unfulfilled Promise
Meanwhile, in Bahadurgarh, another family mourns the loss of their 15-year-old son, Aman Kumar. The walls of his home still bear the balloons and festoons from his birthday celebration on November 19, a stark reminder of how recently the family had reason to celebrate.
His mother, Kanta Devi, recalled through tears her son's reassuring words: "Mummy, vishwas rakhna, I will make you proud." These words now echo as a heartbreaking promise that will never be fulfilled.
Just days after his birthday celebration, tragedy struck during Aman's routine practice at the Brigadier Hoshiar Singh Stadium. A rusted basketball pole, estimated to be approximately 20 years old, collapsed on the Class 10 student, crushing his organs and ending his life within 24 hours.
Aman's father, Suresh Kumar, remembered the desperation in his son's voice after the accident. "He told me, 'Papa, take me in your lap, my pain is unbearable.' Those were his last words," the grieving father shared.
Safety Concerns in Sports Infrastructure
These twin tragedies have raised serious questions about the maintenance of sports infrastructure across India. Both incidents involved rusted poles that collapsed during standard basketball practice, suggesting a pattern of neglect in maintaining sports facilities meant to nurture young talent.
The basketball community has been left reeling from the loss of two promising athletes who shared the common dream of representing India on the international stage. Their deaths highlight the urgent need for regular safety inspections and maintenance of sports equipment in training facilities nationwide.
As families in Bahadurgarh and Lakhan Majra struggle to come to terms with their unimaginable loss, the void left by these young basketball players serves as a sobering reminder of how fragile dreams can be when basic safety measures are overlooked.
