Why in news?
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched a nationwide athletics league under the ASMITA programme to celebrate International Women’s Day. On 8 March 2026, races will be held at 250 locations across India with the goal of involving 250,000 women and girls in competitive sport.
Background
ASMITA, which stands for “Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action”, is part of the Khelo India scheme. Initiated in 2021, it aims to increase women’s participation in sport, identify talent and build capacity among technical officials. Since its inception the programme has organised more than 2,600 leagues across 34 sporting disciplines in over 550 districts, engaging more than 300,000 women and girls, including those in remote and conflict‑affected regions.
Features of the 2026 event
- Scope: Athletics competitions in 100 m, 200 m and 400 m races will take place simultaneously at 250 venues across more than 30 States and Union Territories. Events are organised in three age categories: under‑13, 13–18 years and above 18.
- Support structure: Each venue will have trained technical officials, volunteers, a competition manager and a past champion athlete. Partner organisations include MY Bharat, Khelo India Centres, State sports associations and District Youth Officers.
- Capacity building: The initiative emphasises training women officials and standardising competition management according to Athletics Federation of India norms. Digital data upload and documentation training are included.
- Long‑term vision: Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse said the programme supports India’s aspirations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics by building human resources at the district level.
Significance
The ASMITA league demonstrates a gender‑neutral approach to sports development. By bringing athletics to villages and small towns, it encourages girls to pursue sport professionally and builds a foundation for future international success. The focus on inclusivity and skill development helps nurture a broader sports culture in India.
Source: The News Mill/ANI · The Times of India
