At a time when women have taken a leading role in winning international laurel for the country, the Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, has highlighted the need for women to safeguard themselves by learning appropriate skills.

Smt. Khadse was speaking on the sidelines of the West Zone Asmita judo league at the Meenatai Thakre Stadium in Panchavati here on Sunday. This league is an initiative of the Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports under Khelo India’s Sports for Women vertical and run by the Sports Authority of India.

A total of 800 competitors are participating in four categories of the Asmita judo league: senior, junior, cadet, and sub-junior. The event started on August 31 and will end on September 3.

While it attempts to provide opportunity for women to play a sport, the Asmita league is also an endeavour to inject social awareness and instil a sense of confidence among young women through a sporting activity.

Judo, Smt Khadse said, was one way to learn the skills of self-defence. “In today’s world, it is very important to learn self-defence especially for women and kids. There are instances happening today where you can’t self-protect yourself,” the minister pointed out.

Promising all-round support, she said it was important to start learning self-defence skills from an early age. “The Ministry will ensure that the ASMITA programme provides all kinds of support to the federations, coaches and the players. I will also discuss with the Education Ministry how to make the programme reach all schools.”

The West Zone judo league for women has attracted kids from Rajasthan to Madhya Pradesh and Goa to Daman and Diu, among other states. Union minister urged parents to let their children take part in such activities in big numbers.

There is enough competitive favour in this women’s judo league considering that there are cash prizes worth Rs 4.26 lakh to be won.

******

Himanshu Pathak