New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse on Saturday stressed the need to expand opportunities for women in sports, from grassroots participation and coaching to high-performance competition and leadership roles.
Addressing the All-Women Coaches Course under the All India Tennis Association’s (AITA) ACE 2032 initiative at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) Tennis Stadium here, Khadse said early identification of talent and access to qualified coaches, suitable infrastructure, regular competition and sustained support were crucial to India’s ambition of becoming a leading sporting nation.
She highlighted that sporting talent existed across rural, tribal, semi-urban and urban communities, adding that expanding participation would widen the country’s talent pool and strengthen its prospects at national and international competitions.
Khadse also underlined the need to create opportunities for women beyond playing fields, including in coaching, sports science, administration and event management.
Supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Sports Authority of India, the initiative seeks to strengthen the links between coach education, talent identification and high-performance training.
The discussions highlighted the role of ASMITA women’s leagues under the Khelo India framework in expanding access to organised sports. Launched in 2021, the leagues have reached more than three lakh women, creating opportunities for participation and competition across regions and communities.
The need to connect grassroots initiatives with Khelo India Centres, accredited academies and Centres of Excellence was also emphasised to help promising athletes progress to higher levels of performance.
A key focus of the course was increasing the number of qualified women coaches and expanding access to coaching education and certification across states. Participants highlighted the importance of practical training, mentorship and continued professional development in preparing coaches for competitive sport.
The AITA ACE 2032 initiative seeks to link coach education with talent identification and elite player development.
Sheerika Burman, associated with high-performance training, highlighted the importance of developing expertise in the field. The programme also discussed the possibility of conducting a course in Bengaluru beginning December 10, with 16 players to be selected for the CHP course.
Participants also shared regional perspectives on strengthening grassroots tennis and improving coaching practices.
Preeti Srinivasan from Tamil Nadu highlighted the importance of focused coaching attention and grassroots tennis development, while Marnu Riba from Arunachal Pradesh emphasised holistic player development and ensuring that athletes enjoy the sport as they build their abilities.
The course also highlighted professional opportunities in sports, including coaching, fitness training, sports science, event management and administration. Participants stressed the need to equip more women with the skills and qualifications required to enter these fields and progress into leadership roles.
Safe sporting environments, athlete welfare and professional accountability were identified as essential to sustaining women’s participation, with coaches, sporting associations and governing bodies sharing responsibility for upholding standards of safety, conduct and athlete protection.
The event was attended by DLTA president Rohit Rajpal, AITA director of coaching Kawaljeet Singh, Davis Cup coach Ashutosh Singh, AITA honorary secretary Sunder Iyer, treasurer Dinesh Arora and coach Radhika Kanitkar, associated with the BKJC Cup.
The initiative aims to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in Indian sports by expanding coaching opportunities, supporting grassroots talent and improving pathways to high-performance sport, in line with India’s sporting ambitions for 2036 and the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
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