Tragic Loss: 17-Year-Old Powerlifting Champion Dies During Training in Rajasthan

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The weightlifting community is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of 17-year-old national champion Yashtika Acharya, who died during a training session at a gym in Bikaner on Wednesday.

Yashtika, a rising star in Indian powerlifting, was attempting a 270kg squat when the barbell slipped from her grip, crushing her neck. Despite immediate CPR efforts by the gym trainer and fellow members, she lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to Naya Shahar police station officer Vikram Tiwari, CCTV footage confirmed the incident as an accident. Her grieving family has declined a post-mortem, and authorities have handed over the body for final rites.

Yashtika had recently made headlines by winning gold and silver medals at the 33rd National Bench Press Championship in Goa, showcasing immense potential in the sport. Coming from a family of athletes, she was deeply passionate about powerlifting, with one of her sisters also involved in the sport.

Her untimely passing has sent shockwaves through her hometown and the broader fitness community, highlighting the risks associated with extreme weightlifting. Tributes are pouring in from across the country as fellow athletes and sports officials remember Yashtika’s dedication and promising career.