Odisha Launches ‘Her Sport Ki Champion’ Initiative to Empower Women Athletes

Bhubaneswar: In a pioneering collaboration between the Sports & Youth Services Department, Odisha, and ‘Aspire for Her,’ a groundbreaking initiative named “HER Sport Ki Champion” was unveiled today. This initiative is dedicated to empowering and supporting women in sports as they transition to their post-athletic careers.

“HER Sport Ki Champion” by Aspire For Her is a comprehensive program designed to provide financial freedom and holistic support to women athletes as they transition from sports to their post-athletic careers. Recognizing the challenges faced by female athletes in their professional journey, this initiative focuses on the 3E track: Education, Employment, and Entrepreneurship.

Attending the event Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera stated, “Odisha made the first move of adopting HER Sport Ki Champion. We are very proud to say that our approach towards an inclusive sporting ecosystem will have a widespread impact. We are serious about not just the present, but the future as well. Hence, we are preparing them not just to win today but giving them the power of HER Sport Ki Champion to win tomorrow as well.”

“As we grow the sports ecosystem in Odisha and compete with the world, one of the needs is to think about the livelihoods of those who get left behind. Not everyone gets to compete at the top level, but everyone deserves to have a good life beyond sports. We thank Aspire For Her’s efforts in supporting the sports women of Odisha to have a good life beyond Sports by skilling them and helping them find jobs. I hope that this grows into a movement,” he added.

During the ceremony, three girls- Urbasi Malik, Puja Behera, and Ranjita Pingua were felicitated who are success stories of the first cohort. They have been offered internships.

Rica Roy, the Lead of Special Project, Aspire For Her, shared, “HER Sport Ki Champion gives every sportswoman the power to pursue sports for a few more years without thinking of what would happen when the dream ends. Here is a golden opportunity waiting for them at the end, the chance for a second innings. We give each girl the option of choosing from 5 different jobs.”

The program’s key features are built around four pillars: Financial Empowerment, Career Opportunities, Mentorship Programs, and Entrepreneurial Opportunities. It includes financial support for education, skill development, and career transition, along with mentorship programs connecting women in sports with mentors for guidance and support. The initiative also seeks to facilitate resources for women athletes to explore entrepreneurship and create sustainable ventures.