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The Press Information Bureau’s fact check unit exposed the fake ‘Youth Khelo India Federation’ demanding $825 per athlete for the 2026 International Games in Thailand.
Fake ‘Youth Khelo India Federation’ has been busted by PIB (Picture credit: X)
The Press Information Bureau’s fact check unit on Wednesday busted a fake ‘Youth Khelo India Federation’ claiming government and Indian Olympic Association affiliation.
The organisation is demanding an entry fee of $825 ( Rs 76000) per athlete to take part in the International Games 2026 in Thailand.
In a social media post, the PIB Fact Check Unit clarified that the organisation is neither recognised nor affiliated with the government or any of its associated bodies. It also stated that the Sports Authority of India doesn’t authorise any private entity to collect participation fees from athletes for international events in this way.
After being informed that it was contacting athletes for the ‘International Games 2026 Thailand,’ the Sports Authority of India clarified that it is unrecognised.
When an athlete contacted the Sports Authority of India to verify the status of the organisation, SAI issued a fact check on X, stating that the organisation isn’t recognised by SAI or the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
It also confirmed that SAI doesn’t authorise any private entity to collect participation fees from athletes for international events.
A six-page brochure reviewed by The Indian Express shows the organisation claiming affiliation with the Indian Olympic Association, the Asian Sports Association, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Youth Khelo India.
The brochure features logos of the IOA, the Sports Ministry and Khelo India as well. But a January directive from MYAS states that National Sports Federations aren’t permitted to use the Ministry or SAI logos and may only confirm affiliations through a text statement.
Besides claiming the fake affiliations, the brochure also advertises scholarships for National Games medallists. It is signed by Salma, General Secretary of the Youth Khelo India Federation. But no such organisation appears on the websites of the Indian Olympic Association or the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
March 18, 2026, 1:30 PM IST
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