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A tragic accident claimed the life of a 17-year-old female powerlifter in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, India, after a 270kg weight fell on her neck during practice.
The young athlete, identified as Yashtika, was a gold medalist in the National Bench Press Championship. She was training at Power Headquarters gym under the supervision of her coach when the fatal incident occurred on Tuesday, February 18, according to Naya Shahar SHO Vikram Tiwari.
Witnesses reported that Yashtika was attempting to lift the heavy weight for the second time, having succeeded on her first attempt. However, she lost her balance, causing the barbell to come crashing down on her neck. In the process, she also knocked over her coach, who sustained minor injuries.
“Gym members rushed to remove the weight while her coach performed CPR, but she showed no signs of recovery,” SHO Tiwari told the media.
A video of the tragic moment has surfaced online, showing Yashtika collapsing under the weight. The footage has since gone viral, sparking an outpouring of grief from the sports community and beyond.
Yashtika had previously secured a gold medal in the Sub-Junior 84kg and above category at the National Bench Press Championship in Goa. Her untimely death has left many mourning the loss of a promising young athlete.
