New Delhi, March 19: The World Athletics Council has awarded India the rights to host the Indoor Championship in 2028. This announcement was confirmed on Thursday by Bahadur Singh Sagoo, the President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
Sagoo stated, “India will host the World Athletics Indoor Championship 2028 in Bhubaneswar. The global event will take place at the Kalinga Indoor Stadium.”
India was granted the hosting rights during a meeting of the World Athletics Council in Torun, Poland, on Thursday. Torun is also hosting the 2026 edition from March 20 to 22. Notably, India previously hosted the World Half Marathon in New Delhi in 2004.
In January, members of the World Athletics Council visited the Kalinga Indoor Stadium in Odisha and expressed satisfaction with its facilities.
Sagoo highlighted that Odisha has become a major hub for track and field sports in the country. In addition to hosting domestic competitions, Odisha is also organizing international events. The first National Indoor Athletics Championship will take place at the Kalinga Indoor Stadium on March 24 and 25.
The Asian Athletics Championship was held in Bhubaneswar at the Kalinga Stadium in 2017. Last year, Odisha hosted the World Athletics Continental Tour bronze-level event in Bhubaneswar, which saw participation from over 200 athletes worldwide.
The awarding of the World Athletics Indoor Championship 2028 to India reflects the growing significance of Indian athletics.
Indian track and field sports have gained considerable recognition, especially following Neeraj Chopra’s consistent Olympic and World medal wins in javelin throw. Steeplechase specialist Avinash Sable won a silver medal in the men’s 3,000 meters steeplechase at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Recently, Asian Games bronze medalist Gulveer Singh became the first Indian runner to complete a half-marathon (21 kilometers) in under 60 minutes in New York City.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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