India, Nov. 27 -- The tragic death of 16-year-old national-level basketball player Hardik Rathi during routine practice at a court in Haryana's Lakhan Majra has left many shaken. Chilling CCTV footage shows the basketball pole toppling onto the young athlete, crushing him under its weight. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. In Haryana's Bahadurgarh district, 15-year-old basketball player Aman recently died in a similar accident when a pole fell on him during practice. "To see such young lives lost this way breaks my heart," says Narender Kumar Grewal, former member of the Indian National Basketball Team, adding, "Incidents like this highlight where we are lacking. At the national level, we usually use top-quality equipment, but local courts often compromise due to financial constraints. The ring is the most important part of the hoop, and it must be of the highest quality." Ajmer Singh, Olympian and Arjuna Awardee from Karnal, points to another critical issue: maintenance. "Many new courts are being built to high standards, but older courts are often neglected. Regular inspections and maintenance are essential." Ritika, a budding basketball player studying at DU's School of Open Learning, says the tragedy has left many players anxious. "Not all players can afford top facilities, but we shouldn't have to fear for our safety at local courts," she shares....