JAIPUR: Powerlifting champion Yashtika Acharya, 17, a national-level junior powerlifting player, died in a tragic accident while training at a gym in Bikaner Tuesday night when a 270 kg barbell slipped and fell on her neck, causing a fatal fracture. Though Acharya was administered first aid and rushed to the hospital, doctors declared her dead on arrival.
SHO Naya Shahar Vikram Tiwari said Acharya, a resident of Acharya Chowk in Bikaner, was training with weights as part of her regular routine. While her family had travelled to Hanumangarh for a wedding, she had stayed back to continue training.
“Yashtika was lifting weights at the gym, Power Headquarters, under her trainer’s supervision. During the attempt, she suddenly lost balance, and the bar came crashing down on her neck. Fellow gym members quickly rushed to remove the weight, while her coach tried CPR, but she showed no signs of recovery,” SHO Tiwari said.
Acharya had won a gold medal in the National Equipped Bench Press Championship 2024 organised at Vasco Da Gama, Goa, in Oct 2024. Her father, Aishwarya Acharya, works as a contractor, and one of her two sisters is also a powerlifter preparing for a state-level tournament.
“The victim’s family has not registered a complaint, but we are investigating the cause of death. A postmortem examination was conducted, and we have seized CCTV footage from the gym to ascertain if there was any negligence,” said the officer.
To prepare her for the lift, the coach even finished a countdown as Yashtika attempted the lift. She was supposed to lift the weight on the count of three, but the entire weight shifted to her neck, causing her to collapse instantly. The trainer sustained minor injuries in the process.