India to Host 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar

New Delhi: India has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships, marking a major milestone for the country’s growing presence in global athletics.

Announcing the development, Bahadur Singh Sagoo, president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), said the prestigious event will be held in Bhubaneswar at the Kalinga Indoor Stadium.

“India will host the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar. The global competition will be staged at Kalinga’s Indoor Stadium,” Sagoo said.

The decision was taken during the World Athletics Council meeting held in Torun, Poland, which is also set to host the 2026 edition of the championships from March 20 to 22.

Officials from the World Athletics Council had earlier visited Bhubaneswar in January to inspect the Kalinga Indoor Stadium and expressed satisfaction with the facilities.

Sagoo highlighted Odisha’s emergence as a major hub for athletics in India, noting that the State has successfully hosted several national and international events. The upcoming first National Indoor Athletics Championships will also be held at the same venue on March 24 and 25.

Bhubaneswar previously hosted the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships, while Odisha organised the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Level competition last year, attracting over 200 athletes from across the globe. India had also hosted the World Half Marathon Championships in New Delhi in 2004.

The allocation of the 2028 Indoor Championships reflects the rising profile of Indian athletics on the world stage. The sport has gained momentum following standout performances by athletes such as Olympic and world medallist Neeraj Chopra and steeplechaser Avinash Sable, who won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Adding to the momentum, Asian Games bronze medallist Gulveer Singh recently became the first Indian to complete a half marathon in under 60 minutes in New York City.

“The Indian athletes have been making a strong impression globally. We are hopeful more youngsters will bring glory at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games,” Sagoo added.