ASMITA Athletics League Celebrates Women’s Day Across Nation

A nationwide athletics league will be held on March 8 to commemorate International Women’s Day. The event, organized under the ASMITA program, will take place at 250 locations across the country.

The initiative, announced by Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse, aims to encourage women’s participation in sports and identify athletic talent for future global competitions.

ASMITA Program Overview

ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action) is a program under the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It is part of Khelo India’s gender-neutral mission to promote sports among women through leagues and competitions. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) supports National Sports Federations in conducting Khelo India women’s leagues.

Since its launch in 2021, ASMITA has conducted over 2,600 leagues across 34 sports disciplines in more than 550 districts and 700 cities. The program has reached remote areas including Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and regions previously affected by Naxalism, with participation from over 300,000 women.

Event Details

The International Women’s Day athletics league will feature 100m, 200m, and 400m races across three age categories: Under-13, 13-18 years, and 18+. Events will be held at 250 locations nationwide, with each venue staffed by five technical officials, 10 volunteers, one competition manager, one Past Champion Athlete, and a District Youth Officer. An estimated 250,000 women are expected to participate.

The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with MY Bharat, Khelo India Centres (KICs), the SAI ecosystem and NCOEs, State and District Sports Associations, and District Youth Officers (DYOs). The league will be organized in over 30 States and Union Territories, including those in the North-east.

Preparation for Future Events

Minister Khadse emphasized the importance of grassroots development in preparation for the Commonwealth Games 2030 and India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games. She stated that readiness requires trained human resources, certified technical officials, and administrative excellence at the district level.

Each athletics event will also include workshops for women technical officials, training on Athletics Federation of India officiating norms, and digital data upload and competition documentation training to build capacity.