AUG 08: India’s star footballer Manisha Kalyan inspired young athletes at the ASMITA under-13 league in Guwahati, calling it a rare and valuable platform for girls to pursue football. The 23-year-old, India’s only woman to have played in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, encouraged players to dream big.
“You now have ASMITA – a platform to help realize your dreams. Keep playing, work hard, and you’ll only get better,” said Manisha, who was joined by Assam talents Rekha Kataki and Dosomi Rowtia, both products of the ASMITA leagues.
Rekha captains North East United FC in the IWL Division 2, while Dosomi has entered the national camp. Manisha praised the North-East’s contribution to Indian football, noting that 11 members of the senior national team hail from the region.
The ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women) initiative, part of the Khelo India mission, aims to promote sports among women. In 2024–25, over 53,000 women athletes participated in 550 ASMITA leagues across 27 sports disciplines in 34 States and UTs. The 2025–26 plan targets 70,000+ women athletes through 852 leagues in 15 disciplines.
In the North-East alone, ASMITA football leagues have grown five-fold since 2022. In 2024–25, 25 football leagues saw 1,615 girls take part.
Manisha also welcomed the Khelo India North-East Games, recently announced by Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, calling it a “great initiative” to increase exposure and recognition for athletes from the region.
Manisha, who has played professionally in Cyprus and Greece, is also the only Indian woman to score against Brazil in an international match.
ASMITA continues to fuel grassroots talent and promote inclusive, gender-neutral sports development across India.
