Tragic basketball accident in Haryana; National player dies as pole collapses on court

Haryana: Rohtak witnessed a tragic accident on Tuesday morning when 16-year-old national basketball player Hardik died after a basketball pole collapsed on him during practice at the Lakhan Majra village playground.

The incident occurred around 10 AM while Hardik was practicing alone, attempting to place a ball into the basket attached to the pole.

CCTV footage of the accident has surfaced, showing the pole breaking and causing severe injuries. Nearby players rushed to assist, removing the pole and taking Hardik to PGI Rohtak, where he was admitted in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to serious head injuries.

Hardik was a decorated national-level player, having won multiple medals in youth championships. He recently earned a silver medal at the 47th Sub-Junior National Basketball Championship in Kangra, and bronze medals at both the 49th Sub-Junior National Championship in Hyderabad and the 39th Youth National Championship in Puducherry.

Tragically, this is not an isolated incident. Two days earlier, a similar accident occurred in Bahadurgarh at the Hoshiar Singh Sports Stadium when a basketball pole broke during a game. The 15-year-old player Aman was also taken to PGI Rohtak but died during treatment.

These incidents have raised serious concerns about sports equipment safety and supervision in youth sports. Authorities have launched investigations into both accidents to determine the cause of the pole collapses and implement measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The sports community and local residents have expressed shock and grief over the deaths of these young athletes, highlighting the urgent need for stricter safety standards in school and community sports facilities.