270kg Barbell crushes 17-year-old powerlifting star, raising safety concerns in sports training | WATCH

Rajasthan: In a devastating accident, 17-year-old Junior National Games gold medallist Yashtika Acharya lost her life while training at a gym in Bikaner, Rajasthan, on Wednesday. According to police reports, a 270kg barbell fell on her, breaking her neck and causing fatal injuries. Despite being rushed to the hospital immediately, doctors declared her dead on arrival. Authorities confirmed that the incident took place while her trainer was supervising the session. The trainer also sustained minor injuries in the accident. However, Yashtika’s family has not yet filed any legal case regarding the mishap. Following a post-mortem examination, her body was handed over to the family on the same day. A disturbing video of the accident has surfaced on social media, sparking widespread discussion about gym safety protocols.

A rising star in powerlifting

Yashtika Acharya was a promising athlete who won gold at the National Bench Press Championship in Goa last year in the Sub-Junior 84kg and above category. Her untimely death has left the sports community in shock. Powerlifting is a competitive strength sport that includes three primary lifts—squat, bench press, and deadlift. Unlike bodybuilding, which emphasizes muscle hypertrophy, powerlifting focuses on maximal strength. Athletes follow rigorous training routines to enhance performance, but safety concerns remain a pressing issue, especially for young competitors.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Death ⚠️
📍Bikaner Rajasthan
Powerlifter Yashtika Acharya (17 years old) d!ed in the gym while lifting 270 kg weight doing Squats...💔

The squat rod fell on her neck, and she instantly collapsed!

P.N: This happened in supervision, but still, it proved to be… pic.twitter.com/bqmzTE5tZ4

— Akassh Ashok Gupta (@peepoye_) February 19, 2025

The origins and evolution of powerlifting

Powerlifting has a long history, dating back to ancient civilizations. Strength competitions can be traced to the Mayan civilization and ancient Persia, where lifting heavy objects was a measure of power. The concept later gained prominence in ancient Greece, where men lifted stones to demonstrate their strength. The modern sport of powerlifting emerged in the United States and the United Kingdom during the 1950s, evolving with new techniques and training methods over time. Today, variations like the sumo deadlift, where athletes position their feet wider than their grip, are widely accepted in competitions.