Aurangabad, March 8: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Rakesh Khadse, stated on Sunday that a significant increase in women’s participation in sports could lead to a rise in India’s medal tally at the Summer Olympic Games and other multi-disciplinary events.
Khadse made this remark during the launch of the athletics league across 250 locations in the subcontinent, held at the Divisional Sports Complex in Garhkheda, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, as part of the Asmita program (Achieving Sports Milestones by Inspiring Women Through Action) to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The Minister inaugurated leagues for yoga, wushu, kickboxing, and weightlifting under the Asmita banner. Additionally, he flagged off a cyclothon and a walkathon. This initiative was organized by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in collaboration with the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation, and the Maharashtra State Sports Department to promote fitness, sports participation, and women’s empowerment.
Khadse emphasized that Asmita serves as a catalyst for increasing India’s medal count in international competitions. He remarked, “International Women’s Day reminds us that women’s rights, respect, and equal opportunities are not just social necessities but the foundation of nation-building. By providing opportunities to women, we empower society as a whole. This is what we are achieving through Asmita, which was launched by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021.”
He added, “Asmita helps us identify talent from grassroots levels, including rural, tribal, and school backgrounds. As participation increases, the talent pool expands, competition improves, and consequently, our medal count also rises. If more women begin to participate in sports, we will enhance our performance in major events. Therefore, Asmita acts as a catalyst for improving our medal count in international competitions like the Olympics.”
To date, approximately 300,000 women have participated in around 2,600 leagues across 33 disciplines under the Asmita initiative. In the 2025-26 season, nearly 159,000 women have already participated in 1,287 leagues.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Asmita Athletics League was held nationwide at 250 locations, featuring three different race categories—100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters—for girls in the under-13, 13-18, and 18-plus age groups. The one-day event saw a total of 200,000 girls participating, implemented with the support of My Bharat, Khelo India Centers (KIC), the SAI ecosystem, NCOE, state and district sports associations, and district youth officers.
Leave a Comment