New Delhi, March 2 Over two lakh girls across 250 districts nationwide will compete in ASMITA athletics events on March 8 and 9 to mark International Women's Day, Sports Minister Raksha Khadse announced on Monday, advocating increased participation of women in sports to bolster India's 2036 Olympic bid.
The event, which is part of the Sports Ministry's initiative, will also pave the way for the creation of a pool of women technical officials across the country, keeping in mind the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and India's bid to become an Olympic host.
International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8.
ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women) is part of the Khelo India Scheme's mission to promote sports among women through leagues. The initiative began in 2021.
In 250 locations across the country, 100m, 200m, and 400m races will be held in the Under-13, 13-18, and 18+ categories. Each venue will deploy five Technical Officials, 10 Volunteers, one Competition Manager, a Past Champion Athlete (PCA), and a District Youth Officer to manage the events.
A workshop on Women Technical Officials Development will also be conducted alongside training for referees and timekeepers. Participants will also receive training on officiating norms aligned with the Athletics Federation of India, as well as digital data upload and competition documentation.
"This is an effort to identify talent for the 2030 CWG and the 2036 Olympics. We are encouraging women's participation across the country, and I believe that it is not as high as it should be," Khadse said at a press conference.
"During my interactions to promote ASMITA, I have realized that the girls struggle to get the support they need to take the first step into sports. ASMITA aims to bridge that gap," she added.