India to host World Athletics Continental Tour silver level meet

NEW DELHI: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced on Tuesday that India will host its first-ever Continental Silver level meet on Aug 22 next year in Bhubaneswar. The one-day event, upgraded from a bronze level meet held in Aug this year, is designed to attract a rich line-up of global stars.

It will provide local athletes an opportunity to earn crucial world ranking points in home conditions - significant for qualifying for major events.The silver meet is the second tier or Category B event of the World Athletics Continental tour, below the Gold and Platinum levels, and it offers higher ranking points than bronze meets.

AFI also revealed its annual calendar for 2026, increasing the number of domestic competitions from 32 to 40 and staging the country's first national indoor championships in March.

"This year we are going a level up and conducting the silver level meet. We have added the inaugural edition of the Indoor national championships to our calendar. It will take place at Bhubaneswar's indoor stadium on March 24 and 25. We are also going to organise the first-ever edition of the Indoor Open combined events and pole vault competition on May 2 and 3.

The 2026 domestic calendar will feature as many as 40 competition," AFI's director of competitions Ravinder Choudhary said.

To encourage regional-level competitors, the AFI has introduced an Indian Athletics Series from next calendar year. The 16-part series will commence in April and continue until Sept. The series-finale, which will be by-invitation, will take place at the JLN stadium here on Sept 12.The AFI has also set eligibility criteria for its major senior events.To participate in the 29th senior national Federation Cup championships in May, athletes must compete in a minimum of two competitions. Competitors must take part in three competitions, including state meets, to be eligible for the 65th national inter-state senior championships in July.