India has officially placed bids to host the 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships and the 2026 Asian Relays, marking a significant move to bring more continental and international athletics events to the country. If approved, it would be the first time India hosts either of these prestigious competitions.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has proposed Bhubaneswar as the host city for the 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, citing the world-class indoor facility at the Kalinga Stadium complex as the ideal venue. “We have submitted the bid with Bhubaneswar as the host city. There is no other venue in India suitable for this scale of indoor competition,” a senior AFI official told PTI.
As for the 2026 Asian Relays, AFI is yet to finalize the venue, though a north Indian city is under consideration, with the event likely to be held in April 2026. The bids reflect India’s growing ambition to strengthen its presence in the international athletics circuit and further develop sports infrastructure across the country.
