Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: India is set to host a major global athletics event, as the state of Odisha will stage the World Indoor Athletics Championships in 2028. The announcement was made by World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, marking a big moment for the country as it continues to grow its presence in international sports. This will be the first time India hosts a major event organised by World Athletics.
The championships are expected to take place in Bhubaneswar, which has modern facilities like the Kalinga Stadium complex, including an indoor arena. Coe, as quoted by news agency AFP, confirmed the decision, saying, “The World Athletics Council this morning awarded the next two editions of the event, the world indoor championships, to Odisha in India in 2028 and Astana, Kazakhstan, in 2030.”He added, “The future of the world indoor athletics championships is looking bright and assured.” This move highlights India’s growing ability to host top-level sporting events.“India will host the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar. The global competition will be held at Kalinga’s Indoor Stadium,” the AFI president, Bahadur Singh Sagoo, stated.
Bigger plans for the future
India is also preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, which is seen as a stepping stone toward a possible bid for the Olympics in the future. Hosting these events shows the country’s long-term vision to become a major sports hub.Coe has previously supported this ambition, calling it a “powerful sign of a nation thinking boldly about its sporting future”.
