Khelo India Announces All-Girls Football League

To expand its scope, Khelo India recently announced that it will launch an all-girls league. In an attempt to encourage girls to join sports at the grassroot level, the government has taken the decision to form the ‘Khelo India Girls League.’ (KIGL) It will be under the supervision of Sports Authority of India (SAI). All India Football Federation will handle its technical and organisational units.

Key Highlights:

• Khelo India will launch an all-girls league, the Khelo India Girls League (KIGL)
• The KIGL will be supervised by the Sports Authority Of India
• The first initiative by KIGL will be Khelo India Girls Football League
• The league will also fetch out local talent from towns and cities

Girls Football League

The first initiative by the KIGL is the ‘Khelo India Girls Football League.’ The league will hopefully generate buzz and interest around the U-17 women's football World Cup. The dates and locations have not yet been disclosed. However, it is likely that the announcements will be made in tandem with the third edition of the Khelo India Youth Games. The event will be held from 10th to 22nd January 2020, in Guwahati.

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the league would work within academic circuits, local clubs to fetch out talent. In this way, better state and national level teams can be created.

SAI will initially finance the activities of the league. However, in the long run, local organisers at the state level would have to raise sponsorship as per needed for local activities and matches. All the proposed leagues will be organised in collaboration with the National Sports Federations and the respective state governments.

READ ALSO: East Bengal Club Gets Women's Football Team 

Plans Going Forward

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the league would work within academic circuits, local clubs to fetch out talent. In this way, better state and national level teams can be created. Rijiju expressed that it is important to give a proper platform to the girl athlete. This will encourage not only her and her parents but also other athletes and their families. Above all, he mentioned that “This is the start, and we will soon have leagues in other sports too.”

The decision by the Sports Ministry comes in the wake of preparations for next year’s U-17 Women’s Football World Cup in India. The Women’s Football World Cup will be played in 2020 at six different venues across the country. So, the first football league will start with the Under-17s. Then under-13, under-15 will also be included. AIFF President Praful Patel stated that the U-17 league will soon be followed by U-15 and U-13 leagues as well. “This will help promote the sport and identify raw talent from across the country in a big way.”

Badminton Champion, P.V Sindhu also was all praise for the move. She talked to Times Of India about the importance of such an exclusive all-girls league. “I truly support Khelo India’s initiative along with AIFF to have a U-17 football league for girls. Girls across age groups should take up all kinds of sports even if it’s for fun as it helps us to be a fitter nation.”

READ ALSO: Women's Football In India - Time To Ask Some Tough Questions? 

Image credit: News 18

Prapti is an intern with SheThePeople.Tv