Khelo India ASMITA

The Khelo India ASMITA Football League 2025-26 was recently inaugurated by the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports in Jalgaon, Maharashtra.

About Khelo India ASMITA:

• ASMITA stands for Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women.

• It is part of the larger Khelo India initiative, which aims to promote sports across the country, with a special focus on women's empowerment and gender neutrality in sports.

Objective:

• The league’s goal is inclusive and grassroots-driven sports development by increasing the participation of women in various sports.

• It serves as an affirmative action to address historical imbalances in sports, particularly for women, by providing them with dedicated platforms and opportunities.

• The league encourages the identification of new sporting talent across India and aims to promote sports as a tool for nation-building and empowerment.

Core Elements of Khelo India ASMITA:

1. Empowerment through Sports: Focuses on breaking barriers and providing women with a platform to showcase their skills.

2. Grassroots-Level Participation: Ensures that the initiative is driven at the grassroots level, reaching women athletes from all states and Union Territories (UTs) in India.

3. National and Zonal Leagues: Supported by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the ASMITA leagues are organized at both zonal and national levels under the umbrella of National Sports Federations.

4. Talent Identification: The leagues act as a platform for discovering new talent, helping identify women athletes from rural and urban areas alike.

5. Large Scale Reach: This year, 852 ASMITA leagues are planned in 15 sports disciplines, targeting over 70,000 women athletes across India.

Impact and Significance:

• The Khelo India ASMITA initiative is changing the narrative around women in sports, helping them challenge stereotypes and become role models.

• It is paving the way for women to gain recognition and success in sports, especially in disciplines traditionally dominated by men.

• The initiative is helping break social and cultural barriers, offering young girls opportunities for growth and achievement in sports, thus contributing to a more equitable society.

Nodal Ministry:

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is the nodal authority responsible for implementing the Khelo India initiative, including ASMITA.