Nationwide Athletics League to Empower Women in Sports on International Women's Day
Celebrating Women in Sports with a Nationwide Initiative
New Delhi, March 2: A groundbreaking initiative is set to honor women in sports with a nationwide athletics league taking place at 250 venues, organized under the ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action) program by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. This event coincides with International Women's Day on March 8.
The announcement was made by Minister of State, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, during a press conference at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. Khadse emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “There can’t be a better opportunity to integrate our young women across the nation, and what better tool than using the ASMITA platform that is already gaining in popularity across the length and breadth of the country.”
ASMITA is part of Khelo India’s mission to promote gender-neutral sports participation among women through various leagues and competitions. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) collaborates with National Sports Federations to facilitate Khelo India women’s leagues across different age groups at both zonal and national levels.
Launched in 2021, the ASMITA leagues aim not only to boost female participation in sports but also to serve as a platform for discovering new talent throughout India. To date, over 2,600 leagues have been held across 34 sports disciplines in more than 550 districts and 700 cities, reaching remote areas such as Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, as well as regions previously affected by Naxalism. More than 300,000 women have participated in these leagues.
Khadse announced that the upcoming events will focus on athletics, including 100m, 200m, and 400m races, catering to age groups Under-13, 13-18 years, and 18+. Each venue will be staffed with five technical officials, ten volunteers, a competition manager, a Past Champion Athlete (PCA), and a District Youth Officer. The initiative aims to engage a record 250,000 women in a single day to celebrate International Women’s Day.
This initiative will be executed in partnership with MY Bharat, Khelo India Centres (KICs), the SAI ecosystem, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), and various State and District Sports Associations, along with District Youth Officers (DYOs).
Khadse highlighted that the league will take place in over 30 States and Union Territories, including the North-east, with the goal of inspiring more girls in rural and small-town areas to pursue sports as a career, aligning with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As India gears up for the Commonwealth Games 2030 and aims to host the 2036 Olympic Games, Khadse remarked, “We must understand that readiness begins at the district level. Hosting an Olympic Games requires more than infrastructure; it necessitates trained personnel in every district, certified technical officials, and administrative excellence. This International Women’s Day initiative is part of that preparation.”
Each athletics event at the 250 locations will also feature women technical officials, developmental workshops, and training on Athletics Federation of India officiating norms, along with digital data management and competition documentation training to enhance capacity building.