Rohtak basketball player death: Rusted pole that crushed 16-year-old was not repaired despite requests

Rohtak basketball player death

A relative of national-level basketball player Hardik Rathi, 16, who died in a freak accident in Rohtak on Tuesday, has blamed the Haryana government’s sports department for the tragedy, alleging that repeated requests to repair the rusted pole on the court were ignored.

Speaking to NDTV, Hardik’s cousin Khadak Singh Rathi said the family’s loss was irreparable. “Hardik was a disciplined, focused boy. His dream was to lead India in basketball,” he said.

Hardik, the elder of two brothers, trained at a basketball academy in Lakhan Majra after his father enrolled both siblings. He practised rigorously for six hours a day — from 4 am to 7 am and again from 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm — and would head to the court whenever he had free time or school was closed.

देखिए इस खिलाड़ी को क्या पता था कि मौत उसके कितने करीब है ......

16 साल का यह खिलाड़ी सुबह सुबह जब लाखन माजरा ग्राउंड में बास्केटबॉल की प्रैक्टिस कर रहा था अचानक पोल टूट कर उसकी छाती पर जा गिरा। उसे तुरंत इलाज के लिए हॉस्पिटल ले जाया गया जहां पर डॉक्टरों ने उसे मृत घोषित कर दिया pic.twitter.com/x33nsFntUN

— RAJ KUMAR GOYAL JIND (@Drrajkumargoyal) November 26, 2025

The accident occurred around 10.30 am while Hardik was practising in the court. CCTV footage shows him jumping to touch the basket. During one such jump, he grabbed the rim, causing the rusted pole to collapse on him. His friends rushed over, lifted the pole and pulled him out, but he had already suffered fatal injuries. According to Khadak Singh, the impact of the basketball board on Hardik’s chest caused internal bleeding, leading to his death.

“I hold the Haryana government and its sports department responsible,” he was quoted by the channel as saying.

“I have lost my brother, but I do not want another family to face this. These courts must be repaired so that children do not risk their lives to win medals,” he added.

He further said that the court was built in 2009 with support from Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda, but the pole had been visibly rusting for years. “The academy coach met officials at least 10 times. An inspection had even warned that the pole could collapse any day,” he claimed.

Congress leader Hooda criticised the BJP-led Haryana government, alleging “criminal negligence” and claiming that stadium funding had been halted for 11 years. He said he had allocated ₹18 lakh from his MP fund to improve sports facilities, but the amount was never used. “Why? Because I’m in the opposition. This incident reflects the government’s priorities,” he said.

Following the incident, Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam suspended one official and directed district administrations to inspect sports facilities and repair unsafe equipment across Haryana.