Haryana: National-level rower drowns in pond; accident occurred during practice.

June 24, 2026

Maya Dhankhar (15), a national-level junior rowing athlete, drowned while practicing in a pond (*johad*) in Karontha village, Rohtak district. She was attempting to swim across the village’s large pond. The Shivaji Colony police handed over her body to the family on Tuesday following a post-mortem examination.

Accident occurred during practice
Jaiprakash, a resident of Karontha, stated that his daughter, Maya Dhankhar, had been training in swimming and rowing for a year. She practiced daily, both morning and evening, in the village’s large pond. On Monday evening, around 5:30 PM, she was swimming across the 100-meter-wide pond after a rowing session.

Upon reaching the middle of the pond, she began to drown due to breathlessness and cried out for help. Someone in another boat immediately pulled her out, but she had already ingested water. She was unconscious when brought ashore and was rushed to PGI, where she succumbed.

Village Academy received recognition three months ago
Maya Dhankhar’s father, Jaiprakash, explained that another daughter of the village, Pooja Dhankhar—an international-level rower—runs an academy there. More than ten girls from the village are currently training in rowing. Her academy had received recognition from the Sports Department just three months ago. The department pays Pooja a monthly honorarium of ₹25,000 for her role as a coach.

The Sarpanch stated that the large pond in the village is the biggest one, measuring over 150 meters in length and more than 100 meters in width. He added that he was unaware that rowing and swimming practice were taking place in the village.