3 min learnMar 17, 2026 11:22 PM IST
After being alerted about a company named Youth Khelo India Federation reaching out to athletes for participation within the ‘Worldwide Video games 2026 Thailand’, the Sports activities Authority of India clarified that it was unrecognized.
The Youth Khelo India Federation known as for entries in two sports activities — taekwondo and boxing — with a participation charge of $825 that may additionally cowl air tickets, lodging and meals for the athletes. A brochure that was being despatched to athletes by way of social media and electronic mail additionally had checking account particulars to deposit the participation charges.
When an athlete reached out to the Sports activities Authority of India (SAI) for clarification in regards to the standing of the Youth Khelo India Federation, SAI responded with a reality test on X, saying that the group isn’t acknowledged by SAI or the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports activities (MYAS). It additionally talked about that SAI doesn’t authorize any non-public entity to gather participation charges from athletes for worldwide occasions.
Within the six-page brochure seen by The Indian Categorical, the group claims to be affiliated to the Indian Olympic Affiliation(IOA), the Asian Sports activities Affiliation (ASA), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports activities and Youth Khelo India. Logos of the IOA, sports activities ministry and Khelo India are additionally printed on the brochure. Nevertheless, in a directive issued by the MYAS in January, it’s talked about that Nationwide Sports activities Federations (NSFs) aren’t allowed to make use of the logos of the Ministry and SAI. They will solely use a textual content assertion to substantiate their affiliation.
An organisation working below the identify ‘Youth Khelo India Federation’ is claiming affiliation with the Authorities of India, #KheloIndia, and the Indian Olympic Affiliation.
The organisation can be soliciting funds from athletes by requesting an entry charge of $825 per… pic.twitter.com/ztqbisJLRk
— PIB Truth Examine (@PIBFactCheck) March 17, 2026
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Other than mentioning the bogus affiliation, the brochure additionally lists out scholarships for Nationwide Video games medallists. The doc is undersigned by Salma, Normal Secretary, Youth Khelo India Federation. Nevertheless, no such group is listed on the web site of IOA or the MYAS.
“We got here to learn about such a rip-off when an athlete reached out to us. The athlete wrote a letter to SAI asking in regards to the validity of the organisation. The organisation has additionally performed so-called nationwide occasions up to now,” a supply associated to the difficulty informed The Indian Categorical. “The athlete sought readability on whether or not Youth Khelo India Federation is an official physique and whether it is acknowledged by MYAS. SAI is planning to take this matter up legally, as it’s unconstitutional to run a sports activities group like this.”
When The Indian Categorical tried to contact the main points supplied on the brochure of the Youth Khelo Indian Federation, the calls had been unanswered.
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