Bhubaneswar is set to host the prestigious 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, further cementing the Odisha capital’s status as one of India’s fastest-growing global sports destinations. The international athletics event will be organised in January 2028 at the Indoor Athletics Centre inside Kalinga Stadium.
The announcement comes shortly after Bhubaneswar secured hosting rights for the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships, marking another major achievement for Odisha’s rapidly expanding sports infrastructure and international sporting ambitions.
According to officials associated with the Asian Athletics Association and the Athletics Federation of India, the championship is expected to significantly boost athletics development, athlete exposure and sports culture across the country.
Asian Athletics Association president Adille Sumariwalla and senior athletics officials stated that Bhubaneswar’s modern sporting facilities and successful track record in organising major events played a crucial role in securing the hosting rights.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said hosting the continental championship would strengthen Odisha’s sports ecosystem and also help prepare the state for the much larger World Athletics Indoor Championships scheduled in the same year.
Over the last few years, Bhubaneswar has steadily emerged as a prominent athletics hub in India. The city successfully hosted a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze-level event last year and is preparing to conduct a Silver-level international meet this year.
The Odisha capital has also organised several high-profile national athletics competitions, including the Federation Cup 2024, where Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra clinched gold with a throw of 82.27 metres.
Earlier this year, Bhubaneswar also hosted the maiden National Indoor Athletics Championships along with the Indoor Open Combined Events and Pole Vault Meet, showcasing its growing capabilities in indoor athletics management.
The city is additionally preparing to host the upcoming National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships next month, which will serve as a key qualifying event for the forthcoming Asian Games.
Meanwhile, Chandigarh has been selected as the host city for the 2027 Asian Relay Championships at the Sector 7 Sports Complex. The tournament will feature men’s, women’s and mixed relay competitions in both 4x100m and 4x400m categories.
