18-year-old sprinter Palinder Chaudhary commits suicide at JLN stadium, AFI shocked

New Delhi: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has expressed shock over the death of an 18-year-old sprinter, Palinder Chaudhary, who had allegedly committed suicide at the Sports Authority of India (SAI)-run athletics academy.

AFI president Adille J Sumariwalla termed that death as a "tragic loss".

"It is a tragic loss of young life. We have lost an upcoming athlete. AFI is deeply shocked and sad," Sumariwalla said in a statement.

The sprinter was found hanging from a ceiling fan inside his hostel room in the athletics academy, on Wednesday.

Chaudhary had joined the National Athletics Academy of SAI in November 2016. Last year, he was selected for Asian Youth Championship held at Bangkok and had won a gold medal in the relay race. He had also participated in the World Youth Championship in July 2017.

Earlier this year, he was at Jabalpur till July to complete the joining formalities of the Indian Army, where he had been selected. He joined regular training at the academy in the stadium, thereafter.