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In a shocking turn of events, a 20-year-old Kabaddi player has succumbed to injuries he sustained during a match last month in Chattisgarh's Jashpur district. The deceased identified as Samaru Kerketta, reportedly suffered injuries during a Kabaddi match held in Sundhru village of Jashpur on October 17, died on Wednesday afternoon.
According to reports, Kerketta suffered a serious spinal cord injury, and was taken to the Tapkara Primary Health Centre located nearby from where he was referred to the Jindal Hospital in neighboring Raigarh district where he succumbed after nearly a month-long treatment.
A report published in Times of India quoted a government official stating that the player was being treated for quadriplegia cervical spine injury and was kept on ventilator support. "Despite all the efforts made by doctors, he could not be saved," the official said.
Jaspur Collector Ravi Mittal confirmed that district administration will extend every possible assistance to the family of the deceased. Notably, this was the third death of a player since last month after participating in Kabaddi matches held as part of Chattisgarhiya Olympics, an event being hosted by the state government.
Earlier, a woman Kabaddi player, who had suffered injuries during a match held as part of Chattisgarhiya Olympics in Kondagaon district, died at a hospital in Raipur on October 15.
Reportedly, Chattisgarhiya Olympics has been organized by state government from October 6, 2022 to January 6, 2023, with an aim to promote local sports. Apart from traditional sports like Pittul, Kho-Kho, and Kabaddi, the grand event will also see contests in games like cricket, volleyball and hockey at four levels - village, panchayat, development block, district and state.