Youth Programme and Sports Minister Rakhshas addressed the All‑Women Coaches Course organised by the All India Tennis Association (AITA) under its ACE 2032 initiative at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) Tennis Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday. He highlighted the need to expand opportunities for women in sports, covering everything from grassroots participation and coaching to high‑level competition and leadership.
The event featured DLTA President Shri Rohit Rajpal, AITA Coaching Director Shri Kanwaljit Singh, Davis Cup Coach Shri Ashutosh Singh, AITA Honorary Secretary Shri Sundar Ayer, AITA Treasurer Shri Dinesh Arora and BKJC Cup coach Radhika Kanitkar. Coaches and sports professionals also shared their views on coach education and strengthening grassroots tennis and athlete development.
Launched with the cooperation of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the initiative aims to strengthen the links between coach education, talent identification and elite‑level training.
Increasing women’s participation from the grassroots to elite performance
Union Minister of State for Defence Rakhshas stressed that India’s ambition to become a leading sports nation depends on early talent identification and ensuring that women and girls receive qualified coaches, adequate infrastructure, regular competitions and continuous support
He noted that sporting talent exists in rural, tribal, semi‑urban and urban communities alike. He said expanding participation is crucial to broaden India’s talent pool and enhance the country’s prospects in national and international competitions. He also emphasized that opportunities for women should extend beyond the playing field to coaching, sports science, administration, event management and other professional roles
Discussions highlighted the role of the Asmita Women’s League under the Khelo India framework in expanding organised sport access. Launched in 2021, the league has reached more than three lakh women, giving them opportunities to participate and compete across various regions and communities
The need to link grassroots initiatives with Khelo India centres, recognised academies and Centres of Excellence was also stressed, to help promising athletes progress to higher‑level performance
Strengthening the women’s coaching workforce
A key objective of the curriculum was to increase the number of qualified women coaches and expand access to coaching education and certification across states. Greater female participation in coaching can encourage girls to take up sports and improve the quality and reach of athlete development
The AITA ACE 2032 initiative seeks to connect coach education with talent identification and the development of top‑class athletes. Participants underscored that practical training, mentorship and continuous professional development are vital to prepare coaches for the demands of competitive sport
Discussions also covered high‑performance training and specialised coaching skills. Shirika Barman highlighted the importance of developing expertise in this area. The programme also considered launching a course in Bengaluru from 10 December, under which 16 players would be selected for the CHP course
Regional perspectives on coaching and athlete development
Participants shared experiences and ideas from their respective regions on strengthening grassroots tennis and improving coaching methods
Tamil Nadu’s Preeti Srinivasan stressed the importance of focusing on coaching and developing tennis at the grassroots level. Arunachal Pradesh’s Maranu Riba highlighted holistic athlete development and said it is essential to ensure players enjoy the sport while enhancing their abilities. Jammu‑Kashmir’s Harjot Kaur called for broader Level‑One fitness programmes, especially for beginners
Discussions emphasized the importance of coaching and fitness programmes that cater to different stages of development and varied regional contexts
Building safe and sustainable careers in sport
The course also highlighted growing professional opportunities in sport, including coaching, fitness training, sports science, event management and administration. Participants stressed that women need to be provided with the skills and qualifications required to enter these fields and ascend to leadership roles
A safe environment, athlete welfare and professional accountability were deemed essential for sustaining women’s participation in sport. Maintaining standards of safety, conduct and athlete protection is a shared responsibility of coaches, sporting federations and governing bodies
Under AITA ACE 2032, the women‑only coach training curriculum is a comprehensive effort to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in Indian sports. By expanding coaching opportunities, supporting grassroots talent and improving pathways to elite sport, the initiative aims to contribute to India’s sports targets for 2036 and the ‘Developed India @2047’ vision