A teenage powerlifting champion in Bikaner, Rajasthan, died on Tuesday after weights totaling 270kg fell on her neck during a training session.
Yashtika Acharya, 17, was practising with her coach at a gym when the fatal accident occurred, reported PTI.
The teen was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Horrifying video footage captured the tragic moment, showing Yashtika attempting to lift the heavy weight before falling backwards.
As she drops onto the floor, the bar lands on her neck and she collapses.
Yashtika is then seen lying on the ground motionless as onlookers rush to assist her.
According to officials, the impact of the heavy rod was severe, causing fatal injuries
Her coach, who tried to hold onto the bar as she fell, reportedly suffered minor injuries.
After a post-mortem, Yashtika’s body was given to her family on Wednesday.
She had previously won a gold medal in the Junior National Games, marking her as a rising star in powerlifting.
Powerlifting is a form of competitive weightlifting. If done incorrectly, it can lead to serious and even deadly injuries.
The sport requires athletes to lift maximum weight on three lifts, namely squat, bench press and deadlift.
Yashtika’s tragic accident is the latest in a series of deaths within the powerlifting community.
In 2023, fitness influencer Justyn Vicky was killed in Bali by a barbell while trying to squat-press 208kg in a horror accident. The 33-year-old was strength training at The Paradise Bali gym in Sanur and died shortly after the freak accident.
Justyn was rushed to a local hospital with a broken neck and critical compression of vital nerves connected to his heart and lungs. He died shortly after an emergency operation.
