17-yr-old powerlifting champion Yashtika Aacharya passes away after 270 Kg barbell crushes her neck | VIDEO

A shocking tragedy struck the fitness community as national-level powerlifting athlete Yashtika Acharya lost her life in a gym accident in Bikaner. The gold medal-winning powerlifter sustained fatal injuries when a 270-kg weight bar slipped from her grip and fell on her neck during a training session. Despite immediate efforts to rescue her and rush her to PBM Hospital, doctors declared her dead upon arrival.

The unfortunate incident took place around 7 PM on Tuesday at a private gym near Bada Ganesh Ji Temple in the Acharya Chowk area. Yashtika, daughter of Aishwarya Acharya (Dhinganiya Maharaj), was practicing under the supervision of her coach when the mishap occurred. A video capturing the harrowing moment has surfaced online, highlighting the dangers of extreme weightlifting.

⚠️ Disturbing Visual ⚠️

राजस्थान : बीकानेर में पावरलिफ्टर याष्टिका आचार्य (उम्र 17 साल) की जिम में मौत हो गई। 270 किलो वजन उठाते वक्त रॉड गिरने से गर्दन की हड्डी टूट गई। pic.twitter.com/REt23agjwa

— Sachin Gupta (@SachinGuptaUP) February 19, 2025

Failed attempt at a 270-Kg squat

According to reports, Yashtika was attempting a challenging 270-kg squat when she lost her balance. The massive weight bar slipped and landed directly on her neck. Her coach and fellow athletes acted swiftly, lifting the bar and performing CPR, but she had already lost consciousness.

A rising star in powerlifting

Yashtika was an accomplished powerlifter with numerous accolades to her name. She recently secured a gold medal at the 29th Rajasthan State Sub-Junior and Senior Men and Women Equipped Bench Press Championship in Alwar. Her achievements extended to the national level, where she won gold in the equipped category and silver in the classic category at the 33rd National Bench Press Championship in Goa.

Family background and ongoing investigation

Coming from a family of contractors, Yashtika was one of three sisters, with one of her siblings also pursuing powerlifting. Her father, Aishwarya Acharya (50), is involved in the construction business. While the family has not filed any official complaint regarding the incident, local authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances leading to her tragic demise.