FLO Mumbai Chairperson Seema Saroj and Laher Gala, Founder of Khelegi, met with Shri Deepak Singla, IAS, Commissioner of Sports & Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra, to present the Khelegi programme and explore opportunities for collaboration to increase girls’ sustained participation in sports.
The discussion focused on an important challenge: while many girls enter sport, participation often declines as they grow, particularly during puberty. Khelegi’s play-first curriculum, supported by the IOC Young Leaders Programme, aims to address social, physical and psychological barriers by building belonging, movement confidence, body awareness and resilience.
A pilot programme targeting 1,000 girls across Maharashtra—500 from rural schools and 500 from urban schools— was proposed. The pilot will help identify the specific barriers faced by girls in different settings and develop an evidence-based, scalable model for long-term participation.
The meeting highlighted the importance of collaboration between FICCI FLO Mumbai, Khelegi and the Government of Maharashtra in creating stronger pathways for girls to remain engaged in sports through adolescence. Shri Deepak Singla’s encouraging engagement provided positive momentum towards taking the initiative forward. The discussion reinforced that getting girls onto the field is only the beginning; keeping them there is the true measure of impact.