New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse on Sunday said that India’s medal tally at the Olympic Games and other international sporting events can improve significantly with increased participation of women in sports.
She was speaking at the launch of a nationwide athletics league under the ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action) programme at the Divisional Sports Complex, Garkheda in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, organised to mark International Women’s Day.
The athletics league was conducted simultaneously at around 250 locations across the country and featured races in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres categories for girls in under-13, 13–18 and 18-plus age groups.
On the occasion, Khadse also inaugurated leagues in yoga, wushu, kickboxing and weightlifting under the ASMITA initiative and flagged off a cyclothon and walkathon aimed at promoting fitness, sports participation and women empowerment.
The events were organised by the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in collaboration with MY Bharat, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra State Sports Department.
Describing ASMITA as a catalyst for improving India’s performance in global sporting events, Khadse said the initiative helps identify sporting talent from grassroots levels, including rural, tribal and school backgrounds.
“International Women’s Day reminds us that women’s rights, dignity and equal opportunities are not only a social necessity but also the foundation of nation-building. By providing opportunities to women, the entire society becomes empowered,” she said.
She noted that greater participation in sports leads to a larger talent pool and higher levels of competition, ultimately resulting in improved performance in international competitions such as the Olympic Games.
According to officials, the ASMITA League has so far witnessed participation from nearly three lakh women across 33 sports disciplines through more than 2,600 leagues. During the 2025–26 period alone, around 1.59 lakh women have already participated in 1,287 leagues across the country.
To mark International Women’s Day, the one-day athletics league saw participation from nearly two lakh girls nationwide. The event was conducted in collaboration with MY Bharat, Khelo India Centres, the Sports Authority of India ecosystem and National Centres of Excellence, along with state and district sports associations and district youth officers.
Khadse said initiatives such as Khelo India, Fit India, MY Bharat and ASMITA are contributing to building a stronger and more inclusive sports ecosystem in the country.
“Let every district become active in sports, every daughter become confident and fitness become a national habit. Through these initiatives, we are building a stronger, fitter and empowered India,” she added.
