Lucknow: A state-level kabaddi player from Uttar Pradesh has died of rabies months after being bitten by a puppy he was trying to rescue.

The deceased, Brijesh Solanki, a resident of Farana village in Bulandshahr district, had rescued a puppy that had fallen into a drain in early March this year. During the rescue attempt, the puppy bit him, causing a minor wound.

Believing it to be a small injury, Brijesh did not take the anti-rabies vaccine. In the following weeks, he began to experience pain in his shoulder. Reports indicate that he mistook the discomfort as a normal result of kabaddi training and continued his routine practice sessions.

On June 26, during one of his training sessions, Brijesh developed stiffness in his body. He was rushed to the district hospital, and later shifted to a private hospital in Noida after his condition worsened.

Doctors there confirmed that he had contracted rabies. The infection had spread from his arm to other parts of his body, and despite treatment, there was little they could do, doctors told his family.

Brijesh passed away on June 28 while being taken back to his village. A video of his final moments, showing him in severe pain, has gone viral on social media.

Brijesh was a rising star in the sport, having won a gold medal in a state-level kabaddi tournament held in February. He was reportedly preparing for the 2026 season of the Pro Kabaddi League. His sudden death has left his village and the sports community in deep shock.