Bhubaneswar is set to make history as India prepares to host the 2028 World Indoor Athletics Championships, marking the first time the country will stage the prestigious biennial event. The announcement came at the World Athletics Council meeting in Torun, Poland, a day before the 2026 edition begins, with vice-president Adille Sumariwalla confirming India as the official host. The Kalinga Stadium’s indoor facility, known for its world-class infrastructure, will be the centrepiece of the championship, putting India firmly on the global athletics map.
From Local Glory to Global Recognition
The decision follows an extensive inspection by a World Athletics delegation in January, which approved the stadium for international competition. AFI president Bahadur Singh Sagoo said the move reflects India’s growing prominence in track and field. “Awarding the 2028 Indoor Championships to India underscores the rising stature of Indian athletics. Track and field has been in sharp focus since Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic and World Championship successes,” he said.
Bhubaneswar has a proven track record as a sporting hub. The 2017 Asian Athletics Championships saw a young Neeraj Chopra take gold and set a meet record, announcing his arrival on the senior international stage. Last year, the stadium hosted the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Level Competition, attracting over 200 athletes worldwide. The inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships, scheduled for March 24-25, will serve as a rehearsal for the global event in 2028.
A Front-Row Seat to Sporting Legends
Indian fans can look forward to witnessing elite athletes, including pole vault sensation Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis and middle-distance star Keely Hodgkinson, competing on home soil. The championships feature 26 events across men’s and women’s disciplines, including 60m sprints, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, hurdles, relays, jumps, throws, and the debut 4x400m mixed relay.
The Kalinga Stadium’s indoor facility, inaugurated in 2024, boasts a 200-metre synthetic track, specialised zones for long jump, triple jump, pole vault, and shot put, and 60 twin-sharing rooms for full-time trainees. It meets all international standards, making it a fitting venue for world-class competition.
India’s Strategic Leap in Global Athletics
Bhubaneswar’s selection is part of India’s broader ambition to host major global events, including the 2028 World U20 Championships and the 2031 World Athletics Championships in Ahmedabad, supporting the country’s long-term plan to stage the 2036 Olympics. Nine years after Chopra’s defining moment at Kalinga, fans hope a new generation of Indian athletes will shine in front of a home crowd.
The 2028 Championships not only promise thrilling competition but also showcase India’s organisational prowess, state-of-the-art facilities, and growing influence in international athletics. Bhubaneswar is ready to welcome the world.
