CHENNAI: It was foul play of the worst kind. A kabaddi player from Haryana, who was here to participate in a tournament, died on Monday after he was reportedly stabbed by a teammate following an altercation over the positioning of a pedestal fan in their dormitary the previous night.
Periamet Inspector R Arnold Easter said 18-year-old Navin Singh sustained serious injuries when Sumit Singh stabbed him on the chest and stomach around 11 pm on Sunday. Both played for the north zone and, in fact, were neighbours in Budsham village in Panipat district, he said.
The lads were part of the 12-member team that arrived at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here to participate in the All-India SAI Inter-Regional Kabaddi Tournament that began on Sunday. “The players were put up in the SAI hostel inside the stadium,” sources said.
On Sunday, the six teams played a few matches at Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Egmore, and returned to their dormitory after dinner. The north zone team occupied room number 62. Trouble began when five players, including Navin, put up their beds before the fan and pushed Sumit away when he came to join them.
Navin and Sumit began to quarrel again. Navin reportedly hit Sumit with a stick and the latter, who had a pen knife, stabbed him and fled. A profusely bleeding Navin was taken to the Government General Hospital, where he died around 2 am on Monday, the inspector said. Police are on the lookout for Sumit.