Former wrestler and current MLA from Haryana’s Julana, Vinesh Phogat, expressed concern over the death of two young basketball players in the state within 48 hours.
A national-level basketball player died in Rohtak on Tuesday after an iron bar to which a basketball hoop was attached fell on him during practice. The 16-year-old was taken to hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
This comes after a similar incident took place at the Hoshiar Singh Sports Stadium just a few days ago. This time, a 15-year-old died after a basketball stick fell on him during practice. Even this teenager was taken to hospital but could not be saved.
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Phogat, one of India’s most successful female wrestlers in recent times, in her post on social media slammed the government for the oversight and asked who will take responsibility for the tragic deaths of the two teenagers.
Vinesh Phogat shared the CCTV footage of the incident on Instagram.(Instagram)
“The death of 17-year-old Hardik and 15-year-old Aman in Haryana, a state known for its sports culture, has shocked the entire region. Two innocent lives were lost just because the maintenance, security and equipment of the stadiums were left to chance,” said the wrestler-turned-legislator.
“In both Lakhanmajra and Bahadurgarh, players have been complaining for months about broken poles and damaged equipment. But warnings went unheeded resulting in two deaths. This is not an accident, it is sheer administrative negligence,” she also said.
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“How many more deaths will it take for the system to wake up? Who will take responsibility for Hardik and Aman? When will the stadium safety audits take place?” the former Olympian also asked.
“Haryana’s children are losing their lives on the playground while the government seeks ‘development’ on paper. This is not a failure of the system – it is murder of the system,” she lamented.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda defeated BJP
Leader of Opposition in Haryana Assembly, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, also echoed Phogat’s sentiments. He accused the BJP government of treating sports and athletes as enemies by the state.
“This is why two promising young players, Hardik and Aman, tragically died when a dilapidated basketball pole collapsed,” Hooda said in a statement.
“This is not a simple accident or a normal death but a death caused by the sheer negligence of the government. Hardik was a national player with a bright future who had already signed a contract with a club in the United States. Similarly, Aman was a promising player, just 15. The untimely death of these two young players has shocked the entire state,” he said.
Grant accepted, no work done: Deceased teenager’s grandfather
The deceased teenager’s grandfather told reporters that the grant ₹11 million was received for repairs but no work was done.
“… Grant was admitted in 2023 for repairs… But they kept delaying the repairs… He played nationally four times… He put in a lot of effort. He was a dedicated player…” grandfather Gulab Singh said, according to ANI.
The pillar was damaged several centimeters below ground level. It couldn’t be seen. The rust couldn’t be seen because of the paint… Grant ₹11 crore has been received but no work has been done… The administration is responsible for the incident… We can’t say but the government knows who to take action against… The administration is responsible…” he added.
