India to host 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships
(Courtesy : X/Twitter)
Odisha’s Kalinga Indoor stadium is likely to host the event.
India has taken a major leap in its athletics journey by securing the hosting rights for the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships. The event will be held at the Kalinga Indoor Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, a venue that is quickly becoming the heart of track and field in the country.
The decision was confirmed during the World Athletics Council meeting in Toruń, Poland on March 19 (Thursday).
This will be the first time in over two decades that India hosts a global athletics event. The last instance dates back to 2004, when New Delhi staged the World Half-Marathon Championships.
The most recent edition of the World Athletics Indoor Championships was held in Nanjing, China from March 21 to 23, 2025. Over 500 athletes from 118 nations competed across 26 events. The United States finished on top with 16 medals, including six golds.
India did not participate in the 2025 edition despite a few athletes securing qualification spots. The country is yet to win a medal in the history of the championships, having been part of the competition since 1995.
The 2026 edition is currently underway in Toruń, Poland, running from March 20 to 22. This is the second time Poland is hosting the event, having previously done so in 2014. India did not field a contingent in the ongoing edition of the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
The ongoing competition continues to set the stage for what lies ahead in future editions, including India’s turn in 2028. With no Indian players competing in the last two editions, the athletes will have a tough outing when India hosts the competition two years later.
Kalinga Stadium to host inaugural edition of National Indoor Athletics Championships
At the center of India’s preparations is the Kalinga Indoor Stadium, one of the few facilities in the country with a dedicated indoor track.
The venue is already gearing up to host the inaugural National Indoor Championships on March 24 and 25. This marks an important step in building a strong domestic indoor circuit.
The venue is also the frontrunner to host the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships. A delegation from the Asian Athletics Association inspected the facility last month.
When will India host the World Athletics Indoor Championships?
India have won the bid to host the 2028 edition of the World Indoor Athletics Championships.
Which stadium will host the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships?
Odisha’s Kalinga Indoor Stadium is set to host the 2028 edition of the event.
Has India hosted the World Athletics Indoor Championships before?
No, this is the first time India will host the event.
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Farzan is a journalist at Khel Now covering Indian Olympic sports and kabaddi. With five years of experience working with major sports organizations like Chennaiyin FC, Dabang Delhi K.C., Rajasthan Royals, and Yuva Kabaddi Series, he brings diverse expertise. Farzan has covered two Olympics, one Commonwealth Games, and one Asian Games, making his knowledge of Indian sports broad and versatile.