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Indian sport administrators have been embarrassed after 17 track and field athletes were banned from competing in the Asian Youth Games in China for being overage.

The athletes, who were part of a 27-member track and field squad, were barred from taking part in the Games in the city of Nanjing because they were above the stipulated age of 17.

2,300 athletes from 25 different Asian countries are competing in 15 different events over 10 days.

Commenting on the ejection, Indian Olympic Association interim President Vijay Kumar Malhotra told reporters in New Delhi "it should not have happened, we are trying to find out the reason."

Earlier this week, four Indian badminton players were prevented from competing in Nanjing because organisers said their names had not been entered for the competition by officials back home.

India has been suspended from the Olympic movement by the International Olympic Committee since December last year for electing corruption-tainted officials to its local association.

The country's young competitors are taking part in the Games as "independent" Olympic athletes under the IOC flag.

They were selected by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and approved by the state-run Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Athletics officials would not comment on the over-age problems, but SAI Director General Jiji Thomson blamed the AFI for the mix-up, stating "when a federation gives us a list, we never question it.

"It's entirely the responsibility of the federation to pick a team and ensure everything is in order."

Indian Sports Minister Jitendra Singh has ordered an inquiry, saying the Government had noted the incidents with "considerable disquiet".

In a statement issued by his office, Minister Singh said it was important to fix responsibility for the "lapses".

He also ordered authorities" to put in place a mechanism so that such incidents do not occur in future."

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