A series of sports competitions exclusively for women will be organised at Netaji Stadium on March 7 and 8 as part of celebrations marking International Women’s Day in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The two-day event is being organised by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs in association with the Sports Authority of India and the Education Department. The initiative aims to encourage greater participation of women in sports and physical activities while celebrating the occasion dedicated to recognising the achievements and contributions of women.
Competitions will begin at 8.30 am each day and continue until 5 pm, bringing together participants from different age groups to compete in a range of sporting disciplines and recreational activities.
On March 7, competitions will include volleyball in the open category and badminton singles in the open category. Participants interested in volleyball may contact the designated event organiser Abdul Khalid, while badminton participants may coordinate with Sanjeev Kumar Roy for registration and related details.
The second day of the programme, scheduled for March 8, will focus primarily on athletics and recreational sporting events across multiple age groups. The athletics segment will feature events for women aged above 18 years and below 30 years. Competitions in this category will include a 100 metre sprint, 200 metre sprint, 400 metre sprint and an 800 metre race.
In addition to running events, participants in the same age category will also be able to compete in a 1.6 kilometre cycle race, a 50 metre back run and a 50 metre sack race. These events are designed to encourage participation across different levels of physical fitness and sporting interests.
Women aged above 30 years will also have dedicated competitions during the second day of the event. The athletics schedule for this group includes a 100 metre sprint, a 200 metre sprint and a 1200 metre walk. Participants in this category will also have the opportunity to take part in recreational events such as a 50 metre spoon race and a 1.6 kilometre cycle race.
Alongside the athletics competitions, several fun and community-oriented activities will be organised that are open to participants from all age groups. These include tug of war, passing the ball and musical chair competitions, which are expected to add a recreational dimension to the sports meet.
In addition to the competitions, an aerobic and Zumba demonstration will be presented by participants from the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs Zumba classes. The demonstration is expected to showcase fitness activities that promote physical well-being and encourage more women to adopt active lifestyles.
Organisers have invited interested participants to register for the competitions by contacting the designated officials mentioned for each event. Registration for participation will remain open until March 7 at 8.30 am.
The event is expected to draw participation from women across the islands, including students, working professionals and community members interested in sports and fitness activities.
Officials organising the programme indicated that such initiatives aim to create platforms where women can actively participate in sports while building awareness about health and fitness. Sporting events held during occasions such as International Women’s Day are also intended to promote community engagement and encourage more women to explore competitive as well as recreational sports.
By organising competitions across different age groups and sporting disciplines, the event aims to bring together participants with varied interests while promoting the message of inclusion and empowerment through sports.
With athletics, games and fitness demonstrations scheduled across the two days, the programme is expected to transform Netaji Stadium into a hub of sporting activity as women athletes and participants gather to mark the occasion through physical competition and community engagement.
