Seventeen-year-old powerlifting champion Yashtika Acharya tragically died during a training session in Bikaner, Rajasthan, on February 18, 2025. While attempting to squat a 270 kg (approximately 595 lbs) barbell, she lost balance, causing the weight to fall and fatally injure her neck. Despite immediate assistance from her trainer and fellow gym members, Acharya was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. She had previously secured a gold medal at the National Bench Press Championship in Goa in October 2024.