In a tragic incident from Rohtak, Haryana, a 16-year-old national-level basketball player died after a basketball pole collapsed and fell directly onto his chest during practice. The young athlete, identified as Hardik, was training at the Lakhan Majra court on Tuesday when the pole suddenly toppled forward, fatally injuring him.
Friends present at the venue rushed to rescue him, but despite their efforts, Hardik could not be saved. Police later retrieved the body and handed it over to the family after a post-mortem examination. A case has been registered, and a detailed investigation is currently underway.
A chilling CCTV video of the incident has gone viral. The footage shows Hardik practising alone on the court, running from the three-point line and jumping to touch the basket—a routine drill used to enhance scoring technique.
He completes the drill successfully once. But during his second attempt, when he grabs the hoop’s rim, the basketball pole unexpectedly uproots and collapses, landing with full force on his chest.
Hardik’s friends, who appear to have been taking a break nearby, immediately sprint into the court and lift the pole off him. However, the impact proved fatal, and Hardik succumbed shortly after.
Neighbours told NDTV that Hardik had recently been selected for the national team and had only just returned from a training camp, making the loss even more heartbreaking for the community.
