17-year-old powerlifting champion dies after 270kg barbell falls on neck

20 February 2025 , 21:13

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17-year-old powerlifting champion dies after 270kg barbell falls on neck

A 17-year-old power-lifter and Junior National Games gold medallist lost her life in Bikaner district, Rajasthan, when a 270kg rod fell on her neck during training.

Yashtika Acharya suffered fatal injuries at the gym on Tuesday, with Naya Shahar SHO Vikram Tiwari confirming that her neck broke due to the impact.

Following the incident, Acharya was rushed to hospital where medical staff pronounced her dead. The SHO reported that the accident occurred whilst her trainer was supervising her weight-lifting session. The trainer sustained minor injuries in the incident.
The family did not file any complaint regarding the incident, according to the SHO. The authorities completed the post-mortem examination and released the body to the family on Wednesday.

Powerlifting, a non-Olympic strength sport, involves three different lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift, with participants getting three attempts at maximum weight for each.

Sports-related fatalities, whilst rare, have occurred previously. Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes lost his life in 2014 after being struck by Sean Abbott’s bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. According to Australian team doctor Peter Brukner, only 100 similar cases had been documented previously.

David Wilson