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Asmita's Rugby Initiative Empowers Thousands of Under-Privileged Indian Girls

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, December 3rd 2025 at 10:14 GMT by mykhel

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Indian Women’s Rugby Soars as Asmita Empowers Under‑privileged Athletes Nationwide

The sport of rugby, long considered a niche pastime in India, has experienced a renaissance in recent years, especially within the women’s circuit. A fresh surge of talent, growing media interest, and the visionary work of community‑based organisation Asmita have turned what once was a marginal sport into a national platform for empowerment and social change. The article on MyKhel highlights how Asmita’s grassroots initiatives have propelled India’s women rugby team to new heights and opened doors for thousands of young girls from economically challenged backgrounds.

1. The Rise of Indian Women’s Rugby

The piece opens with a brief history of rugby in India, noting that while the men's team has been on the international radar since the 1990s, the women’s side has only started to receive recognition in the past decade. A pivotal moment came in 2017 when the Indian Women’s Rugby Sevens team won a bronze medal at the Asian Games. Since then, the sport has seen a surge in participation, with over 500 registered female players across the country as of 2023.

The article underscores that the sport’s appeal lies in its blend of strength, strategy, and community, traits that resonate strongly with India’s youth. Moreover, rugby’s inclusive nature—requiring minimal equipment and offering equal opportunities to both boys and girls—makes it an ideal vehicle for breaking down gender stereotypes.

2. The Founding Vision of Asmita

Asmita, founded by former national player Nidhi Singh in 2014, set out to address the glaring gap between rugby’s potential and the socio‑economic realities faced by many Indian girls. Singh, who herself grew up in a small town in Uttar Pradesh, recognized that passion for sport is often squandered by lack of resources. The organisation’s mission is therefore two‑fold:

1. Talent Development – Providing coaching, equipment, and match‑ready facilities to young athletes in rural and semi‑urban districts.
2. Socio‑Economic Upliftment – Partnering with schools, NGOs, and corporate sponsors to offer scholarships, healthcare, and life‑skills training.

Asmita’s first pilot programme was launched in a district of Bihar where, for the first time, a girls’ rugby team was fielded at the district level. By 2019, the organisation had expanded to 15 states, reaching over 1,200 participants.

3. The “Empowerment Through Rugby” Campaign

Central to Asmita’s strategy is the “Empowerment Through Rugby” campaign, detailed extensively in the article. The campaign comprises three pillars:

• Grassroots Training – Monthly clinics held in schools and community centres, using donated rugby kits. Each session incorporates both on‑field skills (passing, tackling, set‑pieces) and off‑field education (nutrition, hygiene, and basic first aid).

• Scholarships & Scholarships – Scholarships cover tuition for higher education institutions that offer sports scholarships, as well as stipends for families to offset travel and accommodation costs. In 2022 alone, Asmita disbursed ₹12 lakh in scholarship funds.

• Mentorship & Leadership – Former national players, coaches, and professionals from the corporate world mentor young athletes, offering guidance on career pathways both within and beyond sport.

The article quotes Singh’s observation that “when a girl learns to tackle, she learns resilience; when she lifts the ball over the line, she learns that boundaries are meant to be broken.”

4. Success Stories

Asmita’s impact is illustrated through several compelling anecdotes.

• Priyanka Devi (17, Punjab) – A former street‑car student who joined Asmita’s clinic in 2020. After a year of training, Priyanka was selected for the national U‑19 squad. She now trains in Bengaluru under the guidance of the national coach.

• The Kashi Squad (Madhya Pradesh) – A group of 12 girls from rural villages who, with Asmita’s support, earned a berth in the national “Schoolgirls’ Rugby League.” Their journey showcases how community backing can transform under‑resourced talent into competitive athletes.

• Medical Breakthroughs – In 2023, Asmita’s partnership with a local hospital in Rajasthan provided free health check‑ups for 350 athletes, leading to early detection of anemia and other preventable conditions—a vital health benefit for many young women.

5. Collaboration with Governing Bodies

The article highlights Asmita’s formal alignment with the Rugby Federation of India (RFI) and the International Rugby Board (IRB). Through joint initiatives, the RFI has adopted Asmita’s curriculum as a model for national coaching workshops. Additionally, Asmita has received a grant from the IRB’s “Women in Sport” programme, further cementing its role as a catalyst for change.

6. Future Plans and Expanding Horizons

Looking ahead, Asmita plans to broaden its footprint to 25 more states over the next three years. Key milestones include:

• Establishing Women‑Only Rugby Academies – Dedicated facilities where girls can train year‑round, with accommodation and nutrition plans.

• International Exposure – Arranging exchange programmes with rugby clubs in Europe and New Zealand, enabling Indian players to experience elite coaching environments.

• Digital Outreach – Launching an e‑learning platform featuring tutorials, training plans, and wellness tips to reach players who cannot attend physical clinics.

Asmita’s co‑founder, Dr. Arjun Mehta, emphasizes the need to keep rugby “rooted in our cultural fabric while staying open to global best practices.” He envisions a future where Indian women not only compete on the world stage but also inspire a new generation of athletes to dream beyond socioeconomic constraints.

7. A Broader Impact

Beyond individual athletes, the article stresses that Asmita’s model has ripple effects across the communities it touches. Girls who join rugby programmes often bring the sport home, introducing family members to the game. In many villages, schools have adopted rugby as part of their physical education curriculum, creating a positive feedback loop of participation.

Furthermore, the article notes that Asmita’s success has attracted media attention, which has in turn drawn corporate sponsorships from national brands keen on aligning with women‑empowerment narratives. These sponsorships provide additional funding for equipment, travel, and coaching, ensuring sustainability.

8. Conclusion

The article from MyKhel presents a compelling narrative: Indian women’s rugby is no longer a peripheral sport but a dynamic force for social change, spearheaded by organizations like Asmita. By combining rigorous training, scholarship support, and community engagement, Asmita has created a pipeline that transforms raw potential into competitive excellence. As the sport continues to gain traction, the nation’s young women stand ready to seize the field—and the future—with confidence, resilience, and unyielding determination.