New Delhi: India has officially submitted bids to host two major continental athletics events the 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships and the 2026 Asian Relays marking a significant step in the country’s growing ambition to stage high-profile international competitions.
If approved, this will be the first time India hosts either of these prestigious events. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has proposed Bhubaneswar as the venue for the 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, while the location for the 2026 Asian Relays is still under consideration.
According to AFI officials, the state-of-the-art indoor facility at the Kalinga Stadium complex in Bhubaneswar makes it the only viable venue in India capable of hosting an indoor athletics championship of this scale. The facility, inaugurated in 2024, features a 200-metre competition track, a 100-metre practice track, areas for field events such as long jump, triple jump, pole vault and shot put, along with a gym and warm-up zones. The venue can seat around 2,000 spectators and includes residential and dining facilities for athletes.
For the Asian Relays, the AFI is considering a city in northern India as a possible venue, with the event expected to take place in April 2026. However, the final decision is yet to be made.
India’s interest in hosting these events follows its successful performances in recent Asian meets. At the inaugural Asian Relays held in Bangkok in May 2024, India clinched gold in the mixed 4x400m relay and silver medals in both the men’s and women’s 4x400m events. The Indian contingent also excelled at the 2024 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Tehran, where athletes won three golds and one silver.
The next Asian Indoor Athletics Championships will take place in Tianjin, China, from February 6 to 8, 2026. Meanwhile, India has also expressed interest in hosting the 2028 World U20 Championships and either the 2029 or 2031 editions of the senior World Athletics Championships, underscoring its broader push to become a global hub for athletics.
