Boosting Women's Involvement in Sports: Government's Affirmative Action Pledge by Union Minister Raksha Khadse under Khelo India ASMITA Program
Khelo India ASMITA Football League 2025-26 Empowers Women in Sports
The Khelo India ASMITA Football League 2025-26, an affirmative action sports initiative, was recently inaugurated in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India. This league is a core component of the Khelo Bharat Niti, a nationwide programme promoting sports for nation-building and women's empowerment.
The objective of the league is to increase women's participation in sports, particularly focusing on nurturing grassroots talent from tribal, rural, and minority communities across the country. The league aims to identify and nurture new female sports talent, foster social inclusion, and contribute to nation-building via women’s empowerment through athletic participation.
The league is designed to provide a platform for everyone, from first-time players to hidden champions. It is being held under the guidance of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, with support from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and the Western India Football Association (WIFA).
The inaugural event was attended by Ketakitai Patil and Farukh Shaikh, the Secretary of the Jalgaon District Football Association, and distinguished members of the college administration. Raksha Khadse, Minister of State, Youth Affairs and Sports, stated that the league seeks to unleash untapped talent within women's sports.
The league is conducted across all States and Union Territories of India, aiming for extensive geographic reach. The 2025-26 season plans to organize 852 ASMITA leagues in 15 sports disciplines, targeting over 70,000 women athletes across the country. The inaugural event for the football league took place in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, highlighting the focus on diverse regional participation, including tribal and minority areas.
The league has significantly expanded access to sports for young female athletes nationwide and acts as a platform for sports talent identification and development. It has helped break gender barriers and increase visibility for women athletes, particularly in regions and communities where sports opportunities have been limited. By targeting younger age groups and diverse backgrounds, ASMITA strengthens the future pipeline of female football players, contributing to long-term growth in women’s sports participation.
In summary, the Khelo India ASMITA Football League 2025-26 is a large-scale, government-backed initiative aiming to empower and include women in football through widespread grassroots engagement, affirmative action, and nationwide reach, thereby advancing women’s sports participation significantly. It is more than just a sports event; it aims to break barriers and bring aspiring female players into the spotlight. The competition is open to aspiring footballers aged 13 and under and is being covered by The Tribune.
- The Khelo India ASMITA Football League 2025-26, a sports initiative under Khelo Bharat Niti, also encourages discourse on women's empowerment through its association with women's health and wellness.
- The league, designed to boost sports participation among women, is actively seeking opinions from experts in various fields, including science and medicine, to ensure the health and safety of its participants.
- In addition to football, the 2025-26 season will feature 14 other sports disciplines, including news-worthy events like athletics and basketball, further widening the scope of women's sports coverage.
- As the league continues to break boundaries in women's sports, it also invites the public's attention towards advocating for women's rights and gender equality in all spheres, especially sports, as a part of broader social discussions.
