I have been playing squash for the last 10 years. Even after winning so many medals and representing India so many times, I do not get any support to take my squash to the national and international levels," Dixit said.
What do you do when you are a squash player who's won a gold medal at the Asian Junior championship, but have no money even to travel?
This is the story of Ravi Dixit, a 20-year-old squash player who won gold in the 2010 Asian Junior championship.
According to a news daily, Dixit has now decided to 'auction' off his kidney to pay for his campaign for next month's South Asian Games.
Dixit has posted on social media that he wants to sell his kidney and asked interested buyers to bid for it.
"I have been playing squash for the last 10 years. Even after winning so many medals and representing India so many times, I do not get any support to take my squash to the national and international levels," Dixit said.
"Dhampur Sugar Mill has supported me but how long will they continue to support me? Next month, the games are starting in Guwahati and I am representing India. To prepare for the tournament, I am training in Chennai but I have not been able to arrange enough money to fund my campaign for the games. I have lost my determination. I am ready to sell my kidney. If anyone needs a kidney, they can contact me. The price of my kidney is Rs 8 lakh," he said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
Selling your kidney is illegal under Indian law, but Dixit is desperate enough to attempt it. But his parents are worried. Ramkailash Dixit, his father, said to the daily, "I have spoken to Ravi. He is in Chennai right now but I spoke to him on the phone. His mother and I are imploring him not to take the step. Together, we will figure out a way to deal with this crisis. This way, he will ruin both his life and career. I am saddened to hear that my son is taking such a drastic measure. I funded my daughter's wedding with Ravi's winnings. Since he has to support the family as well, he cannot use much of what he gets for himself."
Dixit's mother, Sarvesh, added, "My husband is a class-IV employee at the Dhampur Sugar Mill. It is very difficult for us to support the family on his income alone. The mill has been very generous in its support to Ravi's career but we are too embarrassed to ask them for more help."
When contacted by a news agency about the issue, the governing Squash Rackets Federation of India, did not immediately respond for comment.
However, a mill official seemed to be willing to still help Dixit. He said that the Dhampur Sugar Mill had supported Ravi for many years and would try to do so again if the family approached them. "We wish he had come to us before doing such a thing," he said.
But Moolchand Chauhan, UP state minister, jumped into the fray, offering to help Dixit. "Ravi is a very talented player. I am shocked to hear that he has offered to auction his kidney. I will meet his family soon and take the matter to chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. We will help him in any way that we can."
BJP leader and former Dhampur MLA Ashok Kumar Rana however used the occasion to lambast the UP government. The state government in UP is not paying any attention to sporting talents. Ravi Dixit's situation is a result of the state's attitude of neglect. It is our duty to help such sporting talents," he said.
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 "Squash player Ravi Dixit")
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