MORE THAN 300 PLAYERS representing 24 teams will take part in the inaugural edition of the two-day ASMITA Rugby League-National for women, which begins on Saturday at the Kalinga Stadium.
The tournament is being staged under the Sports Authority of India’s ASMITA initiative, a key programme within the Khelo India framework dedicated to the development of women’s sport. It is being organised by the Indian Rugby Football Union, with support from the Department of Sports and Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha, and the Odisha Rugby Football Association.
The league represents the culmination of a six-month, multi-tiered competitive pathway designed to strengthen women’s rugby across the country. It will feature the top eight state teams, which qualified through Rugby India’s Senior, Junior (U18) and Sub-Junior (U15) National Rugby Sevens Championships for the 2025–26 season.
In a statement, the Sports Authority of India noted that during the current season, 49 city-level ASMITA leagues and two zonal leagues were conducted nationwide, attracting participation from more than 8,771 athletes across 858 teams.
Indian Rugby Football Union president and actor Rahul Bose said, “ASMITA has emerged as one of the most impactful women’s sports initiatives in the country. The scale of participation we’ve seen this year – from city leagues to zonal competitions; shows how deeply the programme is resonating on the ground.”
