India to have new women's league soon, says sports minister Rijiju

India already has a top division women's football league (Indian Women's League) run by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) since the past three years.

Kiren Rijiju said his ministry is ready with the format for the league.

Indian football, which has a women's top division league (Indian Women's League) running since the past three years, might see a new tournament by next month. Union sports minister, Kiren Rijiju, on Saturday, confirmed that his ministry is ready with the format of the competition, as well.

“We are going to launch it (women’s football league), most probably next month. We are ready with the format and it will be one of the most extensive football programmes in the country and it will be in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development,” Rijiju said.

“We are ready and we are going to launch it. And you will see that it will be huge movement in India. We have to raise level of football in India and we have to be aggressive. I am clear in that if we are not aggressive, we won’t be able to push through,” the minister said.    

“When I speak about creating a sports culture in India, we cannot overlook football and it being the most popular sport on this planet, football has to be a priority. Football culture has developed now, but what we require is to take to a new level,” Rijiju said, making it clear that the government will fully support the LOC of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, to be held in India next year.