The capital city of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships. This announcement comes after the city was selected to host the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships earlier this year. The Asian Indoor Championships will take place in January 2028 at the Indoor Athletics Centre of the Kalinga Stadium. This event will mark the fourth major international athletics meet hosted by the city within a span of four years.
Additional Hosting Rights for Chandigarh
During the same meeting, it was also announced that Chandigarh will host the 2027 Asian Relay Championships. Athletics Federation of India (AFI) official Sagoo expressed enthusiasm about these developments, stating, "It will be a big boost to athletics in particular and sports in general. International events will enable the athletics fraternity to witness top athletes in action."
Odisha Chief Minister's Perspective
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted the significance of hosting the Asian Indoor Championships, saying it would give a fillip to the sports culture in the state and the country. He added, "The Asian Indoor Championships will be good preparation for the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships."
Bhubaneswar's Growing Athletics Portfolio
Bhubaneswar has been steadily establishing itself as a hub for athletics events. The city began hosting major events last year with a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze-level meet. This year, it will stage a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver-level meet. Additionally, the city has regularly hosted national-level competitions, starting with the Federation Cup in 2024, where Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra won the title with a throw of 82.27 meters. Later that year, it hosted the National Junior Athletics Championships, followed by its 2025 edition.
This year has been particularly busy for Bhubaneswar. The city hosted the inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships as well as the Indoor Open Combined Events and Pole Vault Meet. Next month, the country's top athletes will compete in the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, which will also serve as a qualifying event for the upcoming Asian Games.
Chandigarh's Role in Asian Relay Championships
Chandigarh is set to host the 2027 Asian Relay Championships in May at the Sector 7 Sports Complex. The meet will feature six events: men's and women's 4x100m and 4x400m relays, as well as mixed 4x400m relay.
