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More women coaches needed in Indian sport, says Raksha Khadse at AITA tennis course

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India needs more qualified women coaches to widen its talent pool, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse said on 24 October 2026 while addressing an All-Women Coaches Course in New Delhi, according to PIB.

women coaches: MoS Raksha Khadse at the All-Women Coaches Course at DLTA Tennis Stadium, New Delhi
MoS Raksha Khadse at the All-Women Coaches Course at DLTA Tennis Stadium, New Delhi Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

Raksha Khadse at the AITA ACE 2032 course

The course was held at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) Tennis Stadium under the All India Tennis Association’s ACE 2032 initiative, which is supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Sports Authority of India. The initiative aims to strengthen links between coach education, talent identification and high-performance training. Those present included DLTA President Rohit Rajpal, AITA Director of Coaching Kawaljeet Singh, Davis Cup coach Ashutosh Singh, AITA Honorary Secretary Sunder Iyer, AITA Treasurer Dinesh Arora and coach Radhika Kanitkar. The minister said India’s ambition to become a leading sporting nation depends on spotting talent early and making sure women and girls have qualified coaches, proper infrastructure, regular competition and sustained support.

Key Facts

  • Event: All-Women Coaches Course, AITA ACE 2032
  • Venue: DLTA Tennis Stadium, New Delhi
  • Chief speaker: MoS Raksha Khadse
  • ASMITA leagues: more than three lakh women reached since 2021
  • Proposed Bengaluru course from 10 December

Why women coaches matter for girls in sport

Ms Khadse said sporting talent exists in rural, tribal, semi-urban and urban communities alike, and that wider participation is vital for India’s prospects at national and international events. She said opportunities for women must go beyond the field to coaching, sports science, administration and event management. A key focus of the course was raising the number of qualified women coaches and expanding access to coach education and certification across states, since more women in coaching can encourage girls to take up sport. The discussions noted the role of the ASMITA women’s leagues under Khelo India, which, according to the ministry, have reached more than three lakh women since their launch in 2021. Linking grassroots schemes with Khelo India Centres and Centres of Excellence was also stressed.

Regional voices and a planned Bengaluru course

Coaches from different regions shared their experience, the ministry said. Preeti Srinivasan from Tamil Nadu spoke about focused coaching and grassroots tennis, Marnu Riba from Arunachal Pradesh about holistic player development and enjoyment of the game, and Harjot Kaur from Jammu and Kashmir about making Level One fitness programmes more comprehensive for beginners. Sheerika Burman, associated with high-performance training, highlighted the need for expertise in that area. The programme also discussed the prospect of a course in Bengaluru starting on 10 December, with 16 players to be selected for the CHP course, PIB said. Participants added that practical training, mentoring and continued professional development are needed to prepare coaches for competitive sport. The course also highlighted the growing range of professional careers in sport, including coaching, fitness training, sports science, event management and administration, PIB said, and participants called for safe and sustainable career paths for women in these roles.

Why It Matters: Girls are more likely to stay in sport when they see women as coaches and officials, which widens the pool of future champions.

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Source: PIB, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, 24 Oct 2026 · Sports Authority of India

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