Bikaner, February 19, 2025: A 17-year-old gold-medallist powerlifter, Yashtika Acharya, tragically lost her life after a 270-kg barbell fell on her neck during practice at a gym in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district.
According to Naya Shahar SHO Vikram Tiwari, the incident occurred on Tuesday when Yashtika was lifting weights under the supervision of her trainer. The heavy barbell slipped and crushed her neck, causing a fatal injury. She was immediately rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Trainer Also Injured, No Complaint Filed
The trainer, who was assisting Yashtika during the lift, also sustained minor injuries. The police confirmed that no complaint had been filed by the family. Following a post-mortem examination, Yashtika’s body was handed over to her family on Wednesday.
Her sudden demise has left the sports community in shock, raising concerns about safety protocols in powerlifting training.
