In a devastating road accident on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway near Palghar, India’s promising international shooter, Sambhaji Patil, lost his life instantly. The 27-year-old athlete was traveling from Pune to Gujarat for training along with his friend and fellow shooter, Yash Prashant Chaudhary, when their high-speed SUV collided with a stationary truck. The news of his untimely demise has sent shockwaves through the national sporting fraternity.

The Fatal Crash: High Speed and Overtaking According to the police, the accident occurred late at night due to excessive speed and an error in judgment while overtaking. Sambhaji’s Toyota Fortuner was reportedly traveling at high speed when it attempted to overtake another vehicle. The driver lost control, and the SUV slammed into the rear of a heavy truck parked on the side of the highway. The impact was so severe that the front half of the SUV was completely crushed.

Police Statement: Lane Changing Led to Disaster A senior police official stated that the mishap likely occurred because the driver failed to notice the parked truck while abruptly changing lanes at high velocity. While Sambhaji Patil died on the spot, 22-year-old Yash Chaudhary sustained critical injuries and is currently battling for his life at a nearby hospital. The police are investigating whether any other factors contributed to the loss of control over the vehicle.

A Star Extinguished Too Soon Sambhaji Patil was one of the brightest talents in Indian shooting. He had famously clinched the gold medal in the 25m Standard Pistol event at the 2016 Junior World Cup in Azerbaijan. Having trained under the legendary national coach Jaspal Rana, he also represented India at the 2017 World Championships. Apart from his shooting career, he served as a sports official at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune. His sudden departure is a tragic loss for Indian sports, leaving behind a legacy of hard-earned medals and unfulfilled dreams.