A nationwide athletics initiative under the ASMITA programme is expanding opportunities for women and girls in sports across India, with the objective of strengthening the country’s future performance in international competitions including the Olympic Games. Speaking on the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026, Raksha Nikhil Khadse emphasised that increased participation of women in sports will play a decisive role in boosting India’s medal tally in global sporting events.
The nationwide athletics league under the ASMITA programme was launched at the Divisional Sports Complex in Garkheda, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The initiative is being implemented across 250 locations nationwide and aims to encourage grassroots participation among girls and women across different age groups.
Raksha Nikhil Khadse highlighted that the development of a strong sports culture among women is essential for improving India’s competitiveness at international multi discipline sporting events. According to her, expanding participation at the grassroots level helps create a larger talent pool, improves the quality of competition and ultimately contributes to stronger performances on the global stage.
The athletics league organised under the ASMITA initiative featured competitions in three race categories including the 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres. These events were conducted for girls in three age groups including under 13, 13 to 18 years and 18 plus categories. Around two lakh girls participated in the one day nationwide event, reflecting the growing interest among young women in athletics and organised sports.
The programme is part of the ASMITA initiative, which stands for Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action. The initiative was launched in 2021 to create a structured pathway for women’s participation in sports and to identify talent from grassroots levels including rural and tribal areas as well as school level competitions.
Raksha Nikhil Khadse said that the initiative has become a catalyst for improving India’s medal prospects in international competitions by providing opportunities for young athletes to compete, train and develop their abilities in a structured sporting environment.
She noted that when participation increases, the pool of available talent expands significantly. A larger talent pool improves the standard of competition and helps identify promising athletes who can represent India in international events such as the Olympic Games and other global sporting championships.
In addition to the athletics league, several other sporting activities were launched during the event under the ASMITA banner. These included leagues for yoga, wushu, kickboxing and weightlifting. A cyclothon and walkathon were also flagged off as part of a broader effort to promote fitness, sports participation and women empowerment.
The events were organised by the National Centre of Excellence of the Sports Authority of India in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in collaboration with My Bharat, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra State Sports Department.
Officials stated that the combined activities were designed to encourage participation in sports and promote physical fitness among women and girls. The initiatives also aim to strengthen the overall sports ecosystem in the country by building a culture of active lifestyles and competitive sports engagement.
Since its launch, the ASMITA programme has recorded significant participation across multiple sports disciplines. Nearly three lakh women have taken part in 33 sporting disciplines through more than 2600 ASMITA leagues organised across the country.
During the current 2025 2026 cycle alone, approximately 1.59 lakh women have already participated in 1287 leagues conducted under the programme. These competitions are being organised through collaboration with Khelo India Centres, Sports Authority of India institutions, National Centres of Excellence, state and district sports associations and district youth officers.
Officials said the initiative is helping identify emerging talent from grassroots levels while also encouraging greater participation of girls in organised sports. The nationwide athletics league conducted on International Women’s Day represents one of the largest single day sporting initiatives for girls under the ASMITA programme.
Raksha Nikhil Khadse emphasised that the expansion of women’s participation in sports is closely linked with broader national objectives of health, empowerment and social development. She called for every district in the country to actively promote sports participation and for young girls to gain confidence through competitive sporting opportunities.
She also highlighted the role of national programmes such as Khelo India, Fit India, My Bharat and ASMITA in creating a stronger sports ecosystem that encourages youth participation and promotes physical fitness as a social movement.
According to her, the continued development of these initiatives will help build a fitter and more confident generation of young athletes while also strengthening India’s performance in global sporting competitions.
