Rajasthan: In a heartbreaking incident, 17-year-old Yashtika Acharya, a gold medallist in the Junior National Games, lost her life during training in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district. A 270kg barbell slipped and fell on her neck, causing a fatal injury, police reported on Wednesday.
According to Naya Shahar SHO Vikram Tiwari, the accident occurred on Tuesday while Yashtika was lifting weights under her trainer’s supervision. Despite being rushed to the hospital, doctors declared her dead upon arrival. The trainer also sustained minor injuries in the mishap.
Yashtika’s family has not filed any complaints regarding the incident. Following a post-mortem, her body was handed over to her family for the final rites.
Powerlifting, a strength-based sport involving squat, bench press, and deadlift attempts, is not an Olympic discipline. While rare, fatal accidents have occurred in sports before, such as Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes’ tragic death in 2014 after being struck by a bouncer.
Yashtika’s untimely demise has left the sports community in deep sorrow. Her remarkable achievements at such a young age will always be remembered.
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