Apart from cricket, India as a nation surely punches well below its weight when it comes to sport. The country boasts immense human diversity, with limbs and muscles of all sizes, so race or genetic characteristics aren't a valid explanation. It's safe to say that India doesn't have a sports culture.

The Indian athletes who have achieved international success are exceptions rather than being products of the country's sports system. There are scholarships and endowments for athletes that guarantee a basic minimum standard of living, but this system is fraught with bureaucratic red tape, political interference, conflicts of interest and needless to say, corruption.

We are all aware of the pitiful state of affairs for Indian athletes. There is not enough nutritional food, their training is sub-standard and the infrastructure is a mess. But, that's not new. The world of Indian sports witnessed a new low as a promising national-level wrestler lost his life after getting electrocuted at a water-logged stadium in Ranchi.

A stadium flooding, open electric wire, sportsman clearing water logging. Speaks a lot about India's sports facilityhttps://t.co/6EHiR8olrr

Vishal Kumar Verma, who won gold at the last Jharkhand state competition in both freestyle and Greco Roman disciplines, died in a freak incident that happened due to a short circuit at the inundated and dilapidated stadium building which houses the office of the Jharkhand State Wrestling Association (JSWA).

Built in 1978, the indoor stadium has been flooded with rainwater since the beginning of monsoon and its condition has only worsened due to heavy rains in the past couple of weeks. And sadly, the 25-year-old was pumping out water that had collected near the state wrestling body office when he was electrocuted.

First, we don't give them the deserved facility, then we don't appreciate them and now this is how we pay back? Sad https://t.co/1v3NIZe5Df

Vishal was later spotted by locals lying in an unconscious state and was taken to the nearby Sadar Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. According to the police investigation, the faulty wiring of the water pump seemed to be the main cause of the incident.

“Preliminary investigation has revealed that death was due to electrocution. Vishal was using a water pump to clear out the water when the incident took place. Faulty wiring seems to be the main cause of this incident,” Shyamanand Mandal, officer in-charge of Kotwali police station, revealed.

Sad state of affairs.Sports needs  investments & policy thrust to give aspiring athletes safe & rewarding platform. https://t.co/yoKrPqXHbS

Bholanath Singh, general secretary and coach of the Jharkhand State Wrestling Association, condemned the incident and announced an interim relief of Rs 1 lakh to the bereaved family. The association has also promised a sum of Rs 10,000 every month till one of Vishal's four sisters gets a job.

#Wrestler #VishalKumarVerma #electrocuted at water-logged #Ranchi #Stadium
Blame-Game is ON.

1 lakh ex-gratia to the family#Jharkhand#RIP pic.twitter.com/3QRsdfekPg

“It is extremely unfortunate. I don't know why he went to the office which is sunk in deep waters. The situation of the stadium is pathetic and the building is in ruins. We have demanded Rs 10 lakh compensation from the government for the kin of Kumar,” Singh said.

Vishal was the lone bread earner for his family of six members with three unmarried sisters.