An Indonesian gymnast tipped for international glory has died following a training accident in Russia, the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation confirmed.
Naufal Takdir Al Bari, 19, succumbed to his injuries after spending 12 days in intensive care at a hospital in Penza. Russian media reported he suffered a severe neck injury after falling into a foam pit during a horizontal bar routine.
Naufal had been training for the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2025 and the 2025 SEA Games in Bangkok, with officials believing he had the potential to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “He was one of our most promising athletes,” the federation said.
Vasily Titov, Vice President of the Russian Gymnastics Federation, told local media that an investigation concluded the young athlete was not yet prepared to perform the complex skill he attempted when the accident happened.
Russian officials have pledged to assist with repatriating Naufal’s body to Indonesia. Tributes have since poured in on social media, where the gymnast, known as @nopaln__ on Instagram, had documented his journey.
