Athlete commits suicide at stadium premises

Chaudhary took the step in front of his sister after an argument with father over money, officials say

Parvinder Chaudhary, an 18-year-old athlete who represented India at international level, committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at the capital’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, officials said.

Chaudhary was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his hostel room at the athletics academy of the JLN stadium

The Sports Authority of India said it has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

“We have ordered a departmental inquiry as the incident happened in our premises,” SAI Director General Neelam Kapur said. “The inquiry will be headed by Secretary SAI Swarn Singh Chabra and it should be completed within a week.”

The athlete from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, was brain dead by the time he was rushed to the Safdarjung Hospital and could not be revived.

He appeared to have taken the extreme step after an argument with his father over money, the top SAI official said.

No signs of depression

His fellow trainees and staff at the stadium were shocked as the athlete showed no signs of depression while training through the day.

“Preliminary it seems a family matter related to monetary issues,” Kapur said. “What we came to know is that the boy had an argument with his father in the morning on the phone after which his sister came to meet him in evening. He took the step in front of his sister after threatening her. She came out screaming and our staff immediately went there and brought him down.”

Chaudhary had been residing in room No. 69 of JLN Stadium hostel since November 2016 and was training for 100- and 200-metre races.

“It is a very sad and tragic incident. We are extending all possible help to the family and have arranged for the transportation of his body to Aligarh,” Kapur said.