India, Nov. 26 -- The news of 16-year-old national-level basketball player Hardik Rathi's death during routine practise at a court in Haryana's Lakhan Majra has left many shaken. The visuals from the CCTV footage showing the basketball pole falling on the young athlete, crushing him under its weight, is so chilling that it has ignited concerns about the state of sports infrastructure available in Haryana, which is known as the breeding ground of medal-winning sportspersons.

While Hardik is seen practicing alone in the video, he sprints from the three-point line and jumps up to touch the basket. But, as soon as he grabs the rim, in a split second the pole uproots and crashes while pinning him underneath its weight.

This, however, isn't t...