NATIONAL: Court Crash Tragedy: Hoop Collapse Claims Young Player’s Life
Heartbreak gripped Haryana’s sports circles on November 26, 2025, when 16-year-old national-level basketball player Hardik Rathi met a sudden end during a routine practice in Rohtak district.
The Class X student from Lakhan Majra village was hanging from the hoop at a local court around 10 a.m. when the rusted iron pole gave way, crashing onto his chest.
Fellow players rushed to free him and sped to a nearby hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries despite frantic efforts.
CCTV footage of the gut-wrenching moment quickly spread across social media, drawing widespread shock and tributes to the promising athlete known for his dedication.
Echoes of Bahadurgarh Tragedy
Just two days earlier, on November 24, another 15-year-old boy named Aman suffered an eerily similar fate at Hoshiar Singh Stadium in Bahadurgarh, Jhajjar district.
During afternoon drills, the basketball pole toppled without warning around 3:30 p.m., pinning him beneath its weight.
Teammates pulled him out and rushed him to PGI Rohtak, where he fought briefly before passing away.
Both incidents, captured on camera, spotlight glaring lapses in sports facility upkeep, leaving families shattered and communities questioning oversight.
Police Probe Underway
Rohtak police swiftly registered a case under relevant sections for negligence, with investigations focusing on the court’s maintenance history.
Authorities cordoned off the site for forensic checks, vowing to hold accountable those responsible for the substandard equipment.
In Bahadurgarh, a parallel inquiry is probing the stadium’s safety protocols, amid calls from local officials for statewide audits of public sports venues.
Calls for Safer Courts
These back-to-back losses have ignited urgent demands for better funding and regular inspections of school and community grounds.
Sports enthusiasts and parents alike mourn the lost potential, urging swift reforms to prevent future heartaches.
Alarming patterns:
- Rusted poles in both cases.
- Victims aged 15-16, mid-practice.
- Immediate medical response, yet fatal outcomes.