ASMITA League to Boost India’s Olympic Medal Tally, Says MoS Raksha Khadse on International Women’s Day

The ASMITA athletics league was conducted in three different race classes – 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres – for girls of age under-13, 13-18 and 18-plus categories across 250 locations nationwide

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, March 8:– On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse emphasized that increasing women’s participation in sports is crucial for improving India’s performance at global sporting events, including the Summer Olympic Games.

Speaking at an event in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the minister launched a nationwide athletics initiative under the ASMITA – Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action programme. The event was organised at the Divisional Sports Complex in Garkheda as part of the celebrations promoting women’s empowerment through sports.

During the programme, several sporting leagues under the ASMITA initiative were inaugurated, including events in yoga, wushu, kickboxing and weightlifting. A cyclothon and walkathon were also flagged off to encourage fitness and public participation. The activities were organised by the Sports Authority of India through its National Centre of Excellence in collaboration with MY Bharat, the municipal authorities of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and the Maharashtra State Sports Department.

Khadse highlighted that ASMITA plays an important role in identifying sporting talent from grassroots levels, including rural and tribal regions as well as schools. According to her, greater participation by girls and women expands the talent pool, improves competition and ultimately strengthens India’s chances of winning medals in international tournaments.

Since its launch in 2021 under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ASMITA League has seen significant growth. Nearly three lakh women athletes have taken part in more than 2,600 leagues across 33 different sports disciplines. In the current 2025–26 season alone, over 1.5 lakh participants have already competed in more than 1,200 leagues.

Marking International Women’s Day, a special athletics league was organised simultaneously at 250 locations across the country. The competitions featured sprint races of 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres for three age categories — under 13, 13 to 18, and above 18 years. Around two lakh girls participated in the one-day nationwide event with support from Khelo India Centres, district sports associations and youth officers.

The minister also stressed that initiatives such as Khelo India, Fit India Movement, MY Bharat and ASMITA are helping build a more inclusive and stronger sports ecosystem in the country. She called for active participation in sports at the district level so that more girls gain confidence and fitness becomes a regular part of everyday life.