Ministry of Youth Affairs to celebrate International Women's Day 2026 with nationwide 'ASMITA' sporting events
Vijayawada, March 5
To commemorate International Women's Day on March 8, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will organise a nationwide mass participation sporting event under its flagship ASMITA initiative. The programme will be implemented through the Sports Authority of India in collaboration with My Bharat.
According to Ansuman Prasad Das, the My Bharat AP State Director, the ASMITA sporting events are scheduled to be held across 250 locations. He anticipates a strong turnout from women who belong to the age group of 14 to 28. The women are expected to participate in various sports organised as part of this initiative.
"In 250 locations, we are going to celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, in a unique way. We are expecting that women in the age group of 14 to 28 will come and participate in different sports events, mostly it is athletics, like 100m, 200m and 400m and they will be facilitated and we are expecting lots of participation and after participation, effects will come out of this programme," Das told reporters.
This initiative represents a comprehensive national effort to celebrate women's empowerment through sports. By strengthening coordination between SAI, MY Bharat, and State Governments, the ASMITA programme seeks to mainstream sports and fitness at the grassroots level, ensuring that every woman in India has the opportunity to participate and compete with each other.
Since its launch in 2021, ASMITA has successfully conducted more than 2,500 leagues, benefiting over 2.9 lakh female athletes across all 36 States and Union Territories of India. The initiative continues to create opportunities for women to participate, compete, and excel in sports.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see the government promoting sports for women. However, I hope the infrastructure at these 250 locations is proper. Often in smaller towns, tracks are not maintained. The intent is good, but execution matters most.
As an expat living in Delhi, I love seeing these programs. Empowering women through sport is a universal language. 2.9 lakh athletes already is an impressive number! Wishing all the young women the very best for the events.
Bharat ki betiyan aage badh rahi hain! 🚀 This is a much better way to celebrate Women's Day than just seminars. Action speaks louder. Hope they expand the age bracket in future, why limit to 28? Women of all ages can be athletes.
Coordination between SAI and state governments is key. In my district, such programs have uncovered real talent that went to state-level competitions. This is how we build a sporting culture from the ground up. Jai Hind!
Interesting read. The scale of this is commendable - 2500 leagues since 2021 shows serious commitment. I hope there's a pathway for the most talented athletes discovered here to get further training and support.
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