15-year-old national-level canoeist drowns during practice in Haryana

A promising 15-year-old canoeing athlete, Maya Dhankar, who had recently qualified for national championships, drowned during a practice session in a village pond in Karontha, Rohtak district. Maya, a resident of Karontha, was considered a rising talent in junior canoeing.

Her family reported that Maya had been training at the pond for the past year. The pond functions as a local training center under the Haryana government’s Khel Nursery Scheme, overseen by international medallist and coach Pooja Dhankar. The incident occurred on Monday evening when Maya began her routine drills. After her canoeing practice, she attempted to swim across the pond, which measures 150 meters long and 100 meters wide.

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Maya had been undergoing swimming and canoeing training for the past year at the pond, which functions as a local training hub under the Haryana government’s Khel Nursery Scheme, run by international medallist and coach Pooja Dhankar.

Witnesses stated that Maya began struggling in the deeper, central part of the pond and called for help. By the time fellow trainees and locals managed to pull her out, she had ingested a significant amount of water. She was rushed to the Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Her coach, Pooja Dhankar, who trains village children for free, described Maya as a disciplined and inspiring athlete. Maya had successfully cleared selection trials for the 36th National Canoe Sprint Junior and Sub-Junior Championship in May. While police are awaiting the final autopsy report, preliminary findings strongly suggest drowning. Inquest proceedings are underway, but no case has been registered yet.

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Maya was a disciplined, inspiring athlete whose journey from a rural johad (pond) to the national stage motivated many local girls.