Indian squash player Ravi Dixit's claim he would sell his kidney in order to fund a place at the South Asian Games was made on the "spur of the moment" and he will not be following through with it.

Dixit offered the organ in exchange for 800,000 rupees (£8,300) as a means of continuing his career in the face of a lack of sponsorship in comments to the Hindustan Times.

However, the 23-year-old has abandoned the plans, though he insists he still needs additional funding to remain in the sport.

"The statement made on social media should not have been done and it has blown been blown out of proportion," Dixit wrote in a letter addressed to the president of the Squash Rackets Federation of India.

"I am sorry to my family members and all the governing bodies who have supported me.

"I am keen to pursue squash as my career and [I am] continuously looking out for additional sponsors to meet my expenses

"I never intended to sell my kidney, this statement was made [on the] spur of the moment for which I am truly sorry. Squash is my life and I wish to continue playing."