'Mentally tense' SAI athlete regrets suicide attempt

The teenaged Sports Authority of India (SAI) athlete, who tried to commit suicide, expressed regret at his conduct on Thursday, revealing that he was "mentally tensed" which compelled him to attempt taking his own life.

Kerala's 18-year-old Nithin U., who won bronze in 2014 Youth National Championship, tried to commit suicide early on Wednesday at a SAI hostel in Thiruvananthapuram by slashing his wrist. He was taken to hospital from where he slipped away, police said. He is in a stable condition now.

"Nithin has given a written statement stating that he felt mentally tense thinking about upcoming competitions and hurt his wrist when he banged it against a broken glass window pane," a SAI release said on Thursday.

"He expressed deep regret for having caused inconvenience and embarrassment to his coach (N.V. Nishad Kumar) and others and stated that he did not do so deliberately."

SAI added an enquiry committee has been formed to look into the matter. "An internal committee has been constituted for enquiring into the matter and submitting a report. The local police has enquired into the incident and recorded statements from the trainee and concerned SAI officials."

According to the local police, the doctors at the state-run Medical College hospital, after putting three stitches, referred the athlete to the psychiatry wing for counselling.

"On the advice of the hospital authorities, Shri Nithin U. has been kept under observation to assess his psychological condition. His relatives and friends have been allowed to stay with him to give him company. Further action for his well being will be taken as advised by the medical team," the statement added.

Lately, SAI was in the news in the state after four women athletes consumed a poisonous fruit last month at the SAI Water Sports centre in Alappuzha. While one athlete died the next day, the lives of the three others were saved.