CM Bhagwant Mann mourns the death of 16-year-old basketball star Hardik Rathi and criticizes Haryana’s failed sports infrastructure after the tragic pole collapse.
The family of 16-year-old Hardik Rathi, a national basketball star, received condolences from Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann . Rathi passed very tragically after a basketball pole abruptly fell during practice in his local playground.
The Chief Minister stated the whole sports community is in shock and agony over the tragedy, calling it a disgrace for the country. According to him, Hardik’s parents never thought their son would return home dead after practicing to honor the nation. According to Bhagwant Singh Mann, he is a passionate sports fan and was able to share in the family’s sorrow during this trying time because of his love of sports.
The Chief Minister expressed regret that the residents’ frequent complaints about the basketball court’s terrible state went unanswered. According to him, the Haryana government needs to own up to its carelessness and provide a government job and suitable compensation to a member of the family who lost a loved one. According to Bhagwant Singh Mann, this terrible event has brought Haryana’s failing sports infrastructure to light.
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Despite the Haryana government’s lofty statements about improving sports facilities, the Chief Minister lamented the appalling conditions on the ground. According to him, this tragedy occurred because the Haryana government neglected to provide adequate facilities in the village’s playground, despite the fact that over 47 players from this hamlet had competed for their country in national and international competitions. Additionally, Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that it is disheartening that despite the release of funding for the ground’s rehabilitation, not a single penny has been spent, and that accountability needs to be established.
The Chief Minister also expressed deep regret and grief over the death of another young player, 15-year-old Aman Kumar, who perished in Bahadurgarh, Haryana, when another basketball pole collapsed. He also called for harsh action in that instance. To make sure that similar accidents don’t occur again, he said, the Union sporting Ministry should request reports on the condition of sporting facilities from every state. While India is getting ready to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, Bhagwant Singh Mann pointed out that inadequate infrastructure is also contributing to the decline of young athletes.
According to the Chief Minister, the Union government needs to consider whether the nation is actually prepared to hold competitions at the international level.
On this occasion, Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that the Punjab government is providing top-notch sports facilities and has increased the sports budget to Rs 1,000 crore. He also mentioned that a project worth Rs 1,194 crore has been launched to build over 3,100 state-of-the-art stadiums throughout the state in order to promote sports culture in Punjab. According to Bhagwant Singh Mann, the state has successfully hosted the “Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan” games for three years running, drawing in lakhs of athletes to train up-and-coming athletes for national and international tournaments.