India Officially Named As Host For 2028 World Indoor Athletics Championships

Last Updated:March 19, 2026, 18:17 IST

World Athletics vice president Adille Sumariwalla confirmed the news, marking a historic moment for Indian track and field.

In a landmark decision, World Athletics awarded India the hosting rights for the 2028 World Indoor Athletics Championships, with Bhubaneswar set to stage the prestigious event.

The announcement came during the World Athletics Council meeting held in Torun, a day before the start of the 2025 edition of the championships.

World Athletics vice president Adille Sumariwalla confirmed the news.

Why Bhubaneswar?

India’s successful bid was backed by its rapidly improving sports infrastructure, particularly the state-of-the-art indoor facility at the Kalinga Stadium.

Earlier this year, a World Athletics delegation conducted an inspection of the venue, and the positive assessment played a key role in sealing the deal.

Bhubaneswar, often dubbed India’s emerging sports capital, has already hosted multiple international events across disciplines. This though will be its biggest athletics assignment yet.

A Big Moment for Indian Athletics

The bid was spearheaded by the Athletics Federation of India, reflecting a broader push to bring elite global competitions to Indian soil.

With the spotlight set to fall on India in 2028, the event offers a huge opportunity to:

• Boost grassroots interest in athletics
• Provide Indian athletes exposure to world-class competition at home
• Strengthen India’s case as a future Olympic host

(with PTI inputs)

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