A 16-year-old national-level basketball player named Hardik Rathi tragically died in Rohtak, Haryana, after a basketball pole collapsed on his chest during practice. The incident, which occurred at a court in Lakhan Majra, was caught on CCTV footage showing Hardik performing his regular basketball drills—a jump to touch the hoop's rim. On his second attempt, the metal pole, apparently not firmly planted, uprooted and fell forward, crushing him under its full weight. Despite the prompt intervention of nearby players who lifted the pole and rushed him for medical help, Hardik succumbed to his injuries soon after.

Hardik had been selected for the national basketball team and had recently returned from a training camp. His father, Sandeep Rathi, had enrolled Hardik and his younger brother at a nearby sports club to support their athletic development. The police have registered a case and recovered the body after post-mortem procedures.

This fatal accident closely followed another incident in Haryana's Bahadurgarh district, where 15-year-old Aman died after a basketball pole fell on him during practice, raising serious concerns about the safety and maintenance of public sports infrastructure in the state.

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Authorities, including the Haryana Olympic Association, have launched investigations and suspended all sports events in the state for three days as a mark of respect. State officials have promised detailed inquiries and urged district education departments to provide thorough reports on sports facility conditions.

These consecutive tragedies have sparked outrage and calls for urgent reforms to ensure the safety of young athletes practicing in Haryana’s sports facilities.​

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