ASMITA Khelo India Women’s Yogasana League 2024-25 sees over 7000 participations
New Delhi, Jan. 10: The National ASMITA Khelo India Women’s Yogasana League 2024-25 concluded on a high note at the Anand Dham Ashram, Bakkarwala, Nangloi Najafgarh Road here. Over 270 athletes participated in the final stage of the league, held from January 5-7. West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh are among the states that did well. Smt. Sujata Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, congratulated the athletes and emphasized the growing importance of Yogasana in India, including its inclusion in the 2026 Asian Games. She mentioned that Yogasana is now included as a demonstrative sport in the 2026 Asian Games (Japan), and has also been added as a competitive sport at the upcoming 38th National Games in Uttarakhand. The participants for the national league qualified through zonal championships held across India across last year, where over 7000 women athletes competed. The league featured five categories: traditional yogasana, artistic yogasana (single), artistic yogasana (pair), rhythmic yogasana (pair) and artistic yogasana (group). The top eight athletes each from Under-18 and Above-18 age categories from the four zones of India took part across the five categories. The four zones where competitions were held last year were in Bihar (East zone), Rajasthan (West zone), Tamil Nadu (South zone) and Uttar Pradesh (North zone). https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEmGdKKTUJ9/?igsh=MXMxaWVxYXRjaTBidg== Organized by Yogasana Bharat, the event witnessed healthy competition among athletes from 22 States and Union Territories. The Ministry of Sports, Government of India, provided a prize money of approximately ₹25 lakhs to the winning athletes. This ASMITA Yogasana League, started by the Union Ministry of Sports, looks into empowering the women in Yogasana sport to keep their family fit and healthy. A total of 163 ASMITA women’s leagues were held in the year 2024 which has seen a participation of over 17000 women across 12 sports disciplines. Following are the winners in the five categories are: ABOUT ASMITA WOMEN’S LEAGUE To increase the participation of women in sports by organising leagues in various disciplines and to provide competition exposure to women athletes of different age categories across the country, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), in collaboration with National Sports Federations (NSFs), conducts the Khelo India ASMITA Women’s League/tournaments for multiple age groups. As part of its Sports For Women mission, funding in part or whole for technical conduct and other incidental expenses is provided by Khelo India (KI), SAI.
India To Launch 12 National Leagues Under Khelo India Initiative
As part of the initiative to change the face of Indian sports, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced today it will establish 12 National Leagues in different sports as part of its flagship initiative, Khelo India. The aim is to develop an integrated and strong sporting structure where every sport in the country has its professional league. Khelo India To Lead The Change In Indian Sports Under the initiative, Khelo India will lead in the restructuring of Indian sports with the creation of National Leagues. The Ministry looks to streamline, make it efficient and sustainable, sports development in the country under the programme. This is one move that will give a structured pathway for young athletes, allowing them to train and compete in a competitive environment. The Khelo India vision cannot be just about organizing the leagues; it is a step for professionalizing sports at various levels, from grassroots to elites. National Leagues As The Foundation of Khelo India The core objective of the Khelo India initiative is to create a sporting ecosystem where athletes can thrive. With the launch of 12 National Leagues, Khelo India seeks to provide a platform where young and upcoming talent can showcase their skills and climb the ranks. These leagues are expected to be a critical element in nurturing athletes and fostering competitive sports culture across the nation. For every sport, it is envisaged to have its professional league in place to expose athletes, provide them with proper training and all resources required to produce the best performance. National Sports Federations To Join Hands With SAI The project is aimed at the improvement of most of the NSFs that are not operating efficiently and thus stalling their athlete development process. As part of Khelo India, the NSFs will collaborate closely with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which will oversee the creation and management of these leagues. This collaboration aims to overcome the current limitations faced by the NSFs, ensuring that each sport receives the attention and resources it requires to grow and succeed. Private Sector Support To Enhance The Leagues In addition to the involvement of the NSFs and SAI, the Ministry is open to the idea of utilizing the private sector in organizing and marketing these National Leagues, which are part of Khelo India. The goal behind collaborating with private organizations here would be to inject into the leagues additional resources and infrastructure, and also knowledge that could help improve its quality and visibility. This may be a key aspect through which the leagues are properly structured and sustainable financially by the private sector. A Step To Host Olympics 2036 In India These National Leagues under the umbrella of Khelo India form part of the broader plan of India hosting the Summer Olympics in 2036. With the country planning its bid for the games, these leagues will help build the momentum of enhancing Indian performance in international competitions. It aims to develop a pool of world-class athletes who can bring home more medals and elevate the nation’s standing in international sports by providing athletes with structured, professional platforms to compete. Existing Leagues To Continue As Part Of Khelo India Existing leagues, like successful leagues such as Indian Premier League or PKL (Pro Kabaddi League), as well as Indian Super League, will operate under this structure as before. It won’t disturb the huge existing patronage of leagues already enjoyed widely by these successful leagues. However, the NSFs will be responsible for ensuring that such leagues make long-term and sustainable contributions to the growth and development of the sports they are meant for in the service of the broader Khelo India vision. Khelo India To Help India Unleash Its Full Sporting Potential According to the Ministry of Sports, India has the capability to bring out world-class athletes. Under Khelo India, with the right leadership in the NSFs and the proper intent behind sports development, India can shine at international levels. With India setting its sights on hosting the 2036 Olympics, this National Leagues under Khelo India initiative is bound to be a game-changer in organizing a much more competitive and sustainable sporting culture across the nation. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Khelo India Winter Games: Leh to host in Jan, Gulmarg in Feb
New Delhi, Dec 11: The Khelo India Winter Games dates have been announced. The Union Territory of Ladakh will host the ice events from January 23 to 27, 2025 while the UT of Jammu & Kashmir will host the snow events from February 22 to 25, 2025. The Winter Games will flag-off the Khelo India season with the Youth & Para Games scheduled in Bihar in April next year. The Khelo India University games are also on the cards. The Khelo India Winter Games started in 2020. Almost 1000 athletes, including 306 women, took part in the inaugural edition. The participation has increased over the years. More than 1350 athletes in 2021 and 1500-plus in 2022 highlighted the growing attraction of the Games in J&K. The 2024 iteration of KIWG saw participation of 1200-plus participants including more than 700 athletes, 141 support staff, 113 technical officials, 250-plus volunteer and sports specific volunteers and a total of 136 medals at stake. This (2024) was also the first time Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India along with Sports Authority of India managed the technical conduct of the Games in association with the National Sports Federations and Indian Olympic Association. “We are once looking ahead to an exciting season of Khelo India Games. The Winter Games will be important because India needs to find the best athletes to represent the country at the 2026 Winter Olympics,” said Hon’ble Union sports minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya. This will be the second year running that UT Ladakh will host a portion of the Khelo India Winter Games. Before the 2024 edition, J&K used to host all the events. Leh successfully hosted ice events like skating and hockey in February 2024. Gulmarg, like always, hosted the snow events like skiing and snowboarding. “It is our endeavor to promote winter sports and encourage more athletes to take up skiing and skating. We have already seen many athletes from remote Himalayan villages participating in these Games. That’s very encouraging,” said Dr Mandaviya. (EOM) Press Release, Sports Authority Of India
The Sportz Planet SportSci Summit Season 2 Is In Association With SAI
The Sportz Planet SportSci Summit Season 2, to be held at the Radisson Blu-Atria, Bengaluru on November 21, 2024, is going to transform the sports science world. As the event is in association with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) along its flagship initiatives, Khelo India and FIT India, The Sportz Planet SportSci Summit Season 2 makes it one of the events to shape the future of Indian sports. Government’s Support To Development At The Grass Root Level SAI-the apex body for sports in India-revives with Khelo India and FIT India to make this country a powerhouse in sports. It works on grassroot development, helps develop young athletes and builds fitness at all levels. These initiatives aim to achieve this by collaborating with The Sportz Planet so that sports science and the development of athletes bridge the gap and equip young athletes, coaches and professionals with knowledge and tools to excel in their respective fields. Khelo India & FIT India: Step Towards Sports Science For Enhanced Performance The Khelo India program is one by which the sporty culture has been designed at the grassroots level, thus perfectly fitting the objectives of The Sportz Planet SportSci Summit. The summit would enable young, ambitious players to enhance their performance by using data analysis, recovery methods and injury prevention with the inclusion of advanced sports science into its training procedures. Similarly, the FIT India Movement, initiated by Hon. Prime Minister, Sri. Narendra Modi, accommodates the inculcation of physical fitness into daily life. The Sportz Planet SportSci Summit Season 2 provides the perfect platform for a vision that should be communicated to not just athletes but also to the common citizen. Step Towards The Future Of Indian Sports In short, The Sportz Planet SportSci Summit Season 2 is a call to the Government’s aspirations toward nurturing sports innovation and creating a thriving sports science ecosystem that empowers athletes towards taking Indian sport to new heights. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Khelo India State Centres Of Excellence Boosts India’s Sports Infra: Sports Cities 2024 Report
The “Sports Cities of India 2024” report from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Grant Thornton Bharat has captured the salutary impact of KISCEs on India’s sporting infrastructure. This initiative has played a lead role in positioning India to consistently produce cities that can host international sporting events. Success of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) The report focuses on how India developed into a steady performer in producing global sporting events through the success of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG). The report stands out by reporting successful KIUG where nearly 3,900 athletes from more than 200 universities compete across 20 disciplines. Importantly, KIUG featured Indigenous sports such as Mallakhamba and Yogasana, which gave a distinct platform to the university athletes and further promoted young talent in traditional Indian sports. Reviving India’s Sporting Culture In this regard, the flagship program by the Indian government, Khelo India, is aimed at bringing renewal to the sports culture of the country by further establishing a robust ecosystem that nurtures athletes in every possible stage from grassroots to elite. It majors on grassroots development focusing on students but also permitting development at professional levels in multiple sports disciplines. Esports Industry Biggest Growth Rate The report also speaks to the tremendous, exponential growth of Esports in a position that is one of the major pillars of India’s digital economy: more than 700 million gamers in 2025 and potential revenue of INR 1,100 crore. This is the beginning for the boom industry, which guarantees and predicts the growth of digital sports for the future of India. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye