‘I never intended to sell my kidney,’ says Ravi Dixit
Dixit said he was sorry about his -"selling the kidney-" comment.
New Delhi:
Young Indian squash player Ravi Dixit on Tuesday clarified that he doesn't intend to sell one of his kidneys to pursue his career and -"his spur of the moment-" remark was blown out of proportion.
Dixit said he was sorry about his -"selling the kidney-" comment and did not realise that a post on Facebook would attract so much attention.
-"I did not realise there is so much to be read into this until I received a call from a reporter,-" said the 23-year-old, who is a former Asian Junior champion and is part of the Indian team for next month's South Asian Games.
Dixit, in a hand written letter to president of the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRF), said he would continue playing the game.
-"Squash is my life and I wish to continue playing it. I am keen to pursue the game as my career and would continuously look for sponsors. I never intended to sell my kidney and it was a spur of the moment statement for which I am sorry. I apologise to my family and the people who have supported me,-" Dixit added.
India's top male Saurav Ghosal too was shocked at Dixit's comments. -"I have interacted with him many times and to be honest, I never thought the situation was so extreme (that he would think of selling his kidney). I have not spoken to him, I have only read his comments in the media. It is unfortunate if he thought to do something like that. I am sure there are better ways to fund your career,-" Ghosal said.
SRFI chief Debendranath Sarangi, in a statement, said Dixit has been with the Indian Squash Academy (ISA) in Chennai for nine years and has been staying and training there.
-"The ISA and SRFI provide him financial assistance for participation in the national/international tournaments, in addition to the funding from sports ministry and Dhampur Sugar Mills. He has also gone abroad for training,-" Sarangi said.