Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse has said that India’s Olympic medal tally can improve significantly if more women participate in sports across the country. Speaking during the launch of the nationwide ASMITA athletics league on International Women’s Day, the minister emphasized that broader participation among girls and women would strengthen India’s talent pool and improve competitiveness at international sporting events.
The event was organised at the Divisional Sports Complex in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar under the ASMITA programme, which stands for Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action. The initiative was launched in 2021 with the aim of encouraging women’s involvement in sports and identifying promising athletes from grassroots backgrounds, including rural, tribal, and school-level communities.
According to Khadse, increasing women’s participation in sports directly improves the quality of competition and creates a larger pool of athletes capable of performing at global tournaments such as the Olympics. She stated that equal opportunities for women are essential not only for social development but also for nation-building and sporting excellence.
During the programme, leagues in yoga, wushu, kickboxing, and weightlifting were also inaugurated under the ASMITA banner. In addition, a cyclothon and walkathon were flagged off by the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in collaboration with MY Bharat, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation, and the Maharashtra State Sports Department. These activities were organised to promote fitness, sports participation, and women’s empowerment.
Officials associated with the programme said the ASMITA athletics league included competitions in 100m, 200m, and 400m races for girls in under-13, 13–18, and 18-plus age categories across 250 locations nationwide. Nearly two lakh girls reportedly participated in the one-day athletics events conducted simultaneously across the country.
The ASMITA initiative has witnessed rapid growth since its launch. So far, close to three lakh women have participated in more than 2,600 leagues covering 33 sports disciplines. In the current 2025–26 season alone, over 1.59 lakh women athletes have already taken part in 1,287 leagues, reflecting growing interest among young women in competitive sports.
Khadse highlighted that government programmes such as Khelo India, Fit India, MY Bharat, and ASMITA are helping create a more inclusive and women-centric sports ecosystem in the country. She called for greater sports participation at the district level and stressed the importance of making fitness and athletics a regular part of everyday life for young girls.
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