Women’s participation key to improving India’s Olympic medal tally: Raksha Khadse
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse on Sunday said India’s Olympic medal tally can improve only if women’s participation in sports increases significantly.
Speaking at the launch of the nationwide ASMITA athletics league across 250 locations under the Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action (ASMITA) programme, Khadse said the initiative aims to identify talent at the grassroots and encourage greater participation of women in sports.
The event was organised at the Divisional Sports Complex in Garkheda, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, to mark International Women’s Day.
“International Women’s Day reminds us that women’s rights, dignity and equal opportunities are not just a social necessity but the foundation of nation-building. When participation increases, the talent pool grows and competition improves, which ultimately boosts India’s medal prospects in international events such as the Olympics,” Khadse said.
She described the ASMITA initiative, launched in 2021, as a catalyst for improving India’s performance in international competitions by identifying sporting talent from rural, tribal and school-level backgrounds.
On the occasion, Khadse also inaugurated leagues in yoga, wushu, kickboxing and weightlifting under the ASMITA banner, and flagged off a cyclothon and walkathon organised by the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The events were held in collaboration with MY Bharat, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation, and the Maharashtra State Sports Department to promote fitness, sports participation and women’s empowerment.
According to officials, the ASMITA athletics league featured 100m, 200m and 400m races for girls in under-13, 13–18 and 18-plus categories across 250 locations nationwide.
So far, nearly three lakh women have participated in 2,600 ASMITA leagues across 33 sports disciplines. During the 2025–26 season, about 1.59 lakh women have already taken part in 1,287 leagues.
Officials said nearly two lakh girls participated in the one-day athletics events conducted on Sunday.
“Let every district become active in sports, every daughter become confident, and fitness become a national habit,” Khadse said, adding that initiatives such as Khelo India, Fit India, MY Bharat and ASMITA are helping build a stronger and more inclusive sports ecosystem in the country.
