The tragic death of a young, promising school hockey player in an unforeseen accident is deeply heartbreaking. Such losses on the sporting field deserve recognition akin to soldiers who fall in service”these are, in a sense, sports martyrs. Had they lived, they might have brought great pride to the nation. There are many such cases across the country.
It is time the government rethinks its approach to such incidents. Schools, PE teachers, and sporting bodies invest immense effort in nurturing talent, yet when accidents occur, blame is hastily placed on organizers, often amplified insensitively by the media. This discourages institutions from hosting future events.
Instead, accountability should be balanced with stronger safety protocols and mandatory approvals from relevant authorities. If India aspires to become a global sporting power, it must support its athletes at every level.
