Aurangabad, March 8 (NationPress) - On Sunday, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse, emphasized that India could significantly enhance its medal count at the Summer Olympic Games and other multi-sport events by increasing women's involvement in athletics.

During the launch of a national athletics league at 250 venues across the country under the ASMTA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action) initiative at the Divisional Sports Complex, Garkheda, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Khadse celebrated International Women’s Day.

The Minister also inaugurated leagues for yoga, wushu, kickboxing, and weightlifting under the ASMITA program. Additionally, she flagged off a cyclothon and walkathon organized by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, in collaboration with My Bharat, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation, and the Maharashtra State Sports Department to promote fitness, sports engagement, and women’s empowerment.

Khadse referred to ASMITA as a pivotal force in boosting India's medal tally in international competitions, stating, “International Women’s Day serves as a reminder that women’s rights, dignity, and equal opportunities are essential not just socially but are foundational for nation-building. Empowering women leads to the empowerment of society as a whole, which is the essence of our ASMITA initiative launched in 2021 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“ASMITA aids us in spotting talent at the grassroots level, from rural and tribal backgrounds, and schools. As participation rises, so does the talent pool, competition improves, and subsequently, our medal count increases. If more women engage in sports, our performance in major events will soar. Thus, ASMITA acts as a catalyst for enhancing our medal count in international events like the Olympics.”

So far, the ASMITA League has seen participation from nearly 300,000 women across 33 sports in 2,600 leagues, with 159,000 women already taking part in 1,287 leagues in 2025-26.

To commemorate International Women’s Day, the ASMITA athletics league held competitions in three race classes – 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters – for girls in the under-13, 13-18, and 18-plus categories across 250 locations nationwide. Around 200,000 girls participated in this one-day event, conducted in partnership with MY Bharat, Khelo India Centres (KICs), the SAI ecosystem, NCOEs, State & District Sports Associations, and District Youth Officers (DYOs).

“Let every district engage actively in sports, let every daughter gain confidence, and let fitness become a national habit. Through Khelo India, Fit India, MY Bharat, and ASMITA, we are shaping a stronger, healthier, and empowered India. Following the vision of our Prime Minister, India’s sports ecosystem is progressively becoming more inclusive and focused on women,” Khadse concluded.