Uttar Pradesh roads claimed another victim in Hardoi as para-badminton icon Manoj Sarkar crashed into a nilgai, suffering life-threatening wounds. The Arjuna Awardee was airlifted to Lucknow after the horrific smash-up.
Details emerging paint a chaotic scene: Sarkar, with friends, was heading home to Rudrapur post-Lucknow commitments. Abruptly, a nilgai leaped onto the road near Kachhuna’s Raison village, forcing the car off-course into a pipeline barrier. Chaos ensued with all three injured severely.
Quick action by locals got them to a local hospital, but Sarkar’s gravity prompted immediate referral to the capital. Renowned for his 18 golds and Tokyo Paralympics bronze, the 2018 Arjuna winner once dominated as para-badminton’s global rank one.
This Uttarakhand hero’s resilience will be tested off the court now. The accident spotlights persistent issues like animal incursions on highways, demanding urgent interventions from transport authorities.
Well-wishers flood social media with prayers. As investigations proceed, Sarkar’s recovery remains paramount, underscoring how fragile life can be even for the mightiest warriors.