Eighteen-Year-Old Indian Shuttler Dies During Training Session

The young shuttler was at a training session when he suddenly sat on the floor and fell unconscious.

A pall of gloom descended on the Indian sports fraternity at Sports Authority of India’s Eastern Centre with the sudden demise of an 18-year-old shuttler from Madhyamgram while training.

Niharendu Mallick, who had joined SAI's 'Come and Play' course in April, was doing shadow practice on Saturday with his fellow doubles players when he suddenly sat on the floor and fell unconscious around 11:30 am, badminton coach Mahi Mohan Samantra said.

It is believed the shuttler was on an empty stomach and could have been saved had someone performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Being a weekend, it was an optional session and there was no medical team available and the coach along with fellow players rushed him to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead due to cardiac arrest and brain haemorrhage.

I was in the first floor gym while they were doing warm-ups and suddenly they called me seeing him fall unconscious. Saliva was coming out of his mouth and we immediately took him to the hospital nearby.

Mahi Mohan Samantra, Badminton coach

Mallick’s father Nityananda Mallick, a retired Railway employee, said SAI was not responsible for the unfortunate incident, even as local police pressured him to file a complaint.

“I will write a no-objection certificate. We have no demand or complain against the SAI,” Mallick said.

His father said Niharendu did not have any past medical condition and had been training in Beleghata for many years before getting enrolled in the SAI centre.

“He was doing absolutely fine. My younger son also plays badminton. Like every other day, he had come after having sattu (a health drink made up of flour),” Mallick said.

The SAI Eastern Centre has ordered an inquiry into the incident, regional director Manmeet Singh Goindi said.

We would conduct a thorough inquiry to see if there was any lapse. But the first and foremost thing is we have to behave like humans, this is not the time to play politics. I can understand what his father is going through at the moment. I can feel the pain.

Manmeet Singh Goindi, Regional Director, SAI Eastern Centre

Niharendu did not belong to SAI but was among the 200 students who had come to the training centre for a beginner's badminton course.

"There are a set of guidelines like checking the medical history which we follow for every trainee. They also sign a form where it's mentioned that SAI is not responsible for anything adverse," Goindi said.