New Delhi, March 2, 2026: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, has announced a massive nationwide athletics league under the ASMITA programme to mark International Women’s Day on March 8. The initiative will be conducted simultaneously at 250 locations across India, aiming to empower girls and women through sports participation.
Celebrating Women Through Sport
Announcing the initiative at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, Smt. Khadse said the ASMITA League presents a powerful platform to integrate young women across the country. She emphasized that the programme aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of encouraging girls, especially in villages and small towns, to pursue sports as a career.
The league will focus on athletics events including 100m, 200m and 400m races across three age categories — Under-13, 13–18 years and 18+.
Mass Participation Across 30+ States and UTs
The ASMITA League will be organised in more than 30 States and Union Territories, including the North-eastern region. It is expected that nearly 2.5 lakh women athletes will participate in a single day, making it one of the largest coordinated women’s sporting events in India.
The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with MY Bharat, Khelo India Centres (KICs), the Sports Authority of India (SAI) ecosystem, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), State and District Sports Associations, and District Youth Officers.
Building Grassroots Sports Ecosystem
ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action) was launched in 2021 under the Khelo India mission. It supports National Sports Federations in conducting women’s leagues across zonal and national levels to promote participation and identify emerging talent.
Since its inception, more than 2,600 leagues have been organised across 34 sports disciplines in over 550 districts and 700 cities. The programme has reached remote areas including Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, and districts previously affected by Naxalism. Over 3 lakh women have participated so far.
Capacity Building and Technical Training
Each of the 250 venues will deploy five technical officials, ten volunteers, one competition manager, one Past Champion Athlete (PCA), and a District Youth Officer. Notably, women technical officials will be actively involved in officiating and management roles.
The events will also include developmental workshops, digital data upload training and introduction to Athletics Federation of India-aligned officiating norms. These steps are aimed at strengthening district-level capacity and preparing human resources for future international sporting ambitions.
Preparing for Global Sporting Ambitions
Smt. Khadse highlighted that India’s preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and its aspiration to host the 2036 Olympic Games require readiness at the grassroots. She stressed that hosting global events demands trained officials, administrators and sports ecosystems at every district level.
The International Women’s Day ASMITA initiative, she said, forms part of this broader strategy to build institutional strength and nurture talent from the ground up.
Empowering Girls in Villages and Small Towns
The central objective of the ASMITA League is to motivate girls in rural and semi-urban areas to embrace sports as a viable career path. By ensuring structured competitions and exposure, the programme seeks to bridge the gap between grassroots participation and elite performance.
With the simultaneous conduct of athletics competitions across 250 venues, the March 8 celebration is set to become a landmark moment for women’s sports development in India.
