Along with the rest of the country, athletics events will be held across 36 centres in the eight Northeast states as part of a unique initiative held under the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action) programme to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8.
“The nationwide athletics league, held across 250 locations, will celebrate women in sport,” Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse announced in New Delhi on Monday.
Assam will celebrate International Women’s Day in 10 centres while Manipur (6), Nagaland (6) and Arunachal Pradesh (5) will be the other venues hosting the special ASMITA league. Meghalaya (3 centres), a centre each in Tripura and Sikkim will also join the celebrations.
“There can’t be a better opportunity to integrate our young women across the nation and what better tool than using the ASMITA platform that is already gaining in popularity across the length and breadth of the country,” said Khadse at a media conference held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
ASMITA is part of Khelo India’s gender-neutral mission to promote sports among women through leagues and competitions.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) supports National Sports Federations to conduct Khelo India women’s leagues across multiple age groups at both zonal and national levels.
Started in 2021, ASMITA leagues not only aim to increase the participation of women in sports but to utilise the leagues as a platform for identification of new talent across the length and breadth of India.
So far, more than 2600 leagues have been conducted across 34 sports disciplines in over 550 districts and 700 cities in the country.
Significantly, ASMITA has reached the farthest corners of the country, like Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram in the North-east. It has also been held in areas that were once tormented by Naxalism. More than 300,000 women have taken part.
Ne States To Host Athletics Events Under Nationwide ASMITA League On March 8
