ROHTAK: A drunk man shot dead a 20-year-old national-level powerlifter, firing five bullets at him after an argument over the sportsperson’s parked motorcycle, which the assailant alleged was blocking his car in a residential lane in Haryana’s Sonipat on Sunday.
Vansh, a district-level gold medallist and national silver medallist, had gone to meet his classmates, Akshita and Vanshika, at Pragati Nagar to collect a charger. He parked his motorcycle at the corner of the lane around 3 pm.
A little while later, the accused, Kuldeep, arrived in his car and repeatedly honked, claiming the motorcycle was blocking his way. Vansh came out, and a heated argument ensued, drawing Akshita and Vanshika to intervene. When Kuldeep began assaulting the women, Vansh tried to stop him. Enraged, Kuldeep went to his car, took out a pistol, and shot Vansh – twice in the stomach and once each in the chest, mouth, and back, police said.
Vansh was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.
Kuldeep, who lived near the railway line adjacent to Akshita and Vanshika’s house, fled in his car with his family after locking his home, police said. He has been booked for murder. Kuldeep was involved in the gravel and dust business in Kundli.
Vansh trained at Goldy Gym near Chhotu Ram Chowk in Sonipat. He took up powerlifting three years ago and won a gold medal in the 74-kg category at the district level in 2023. In 2024, he secured a silver medal at a national championship held in New Delhi. Akshita, one of his classmates, was also his gym partner.
Vansh’s father was scheduled to undergo a kidney operation in Delhi on the same day his son was murdered, a family member said.