India to Host World Indoor Athletics Championships 2028 in Bhubaneswar

India Secures Hosting Rights for 2028 Championships

New Delhi, March 19: India has officially been granted the rights to host the World Indoor Athletics Championships in 2028, with Bhubaneswar set to be the venue for this prestigious event. The World Athletics Council made this decision during a meeting held in Torun, Poland, on Thursday.

As reported by Olympics.com, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) submitted the bid earlier this year, aiming to bring this esteemed biennial track and field competition to Indian soil for the very first time.

A two-member delegation from World Athletics inspected the indoor facilities at the Kalinga Stadium Complex in Bhubaneswar in January, ultimately giving the green light for India to host the 22nd edition of the Championships.

The World Indoor Athletics Championships, organized by World Athletics, first commenced in Paris, France, back in 1985.

With this event, India will join the ranks of only three other Asian nations—Japan, Qatar, and China—to have hosted the Championships.

This competition is a premier global indoor athletics event, attracting top-tier athletes from around the world. Although India has yet to secure a medal at this event, hosting it represents a significant achievement for the country's athletics aspirations.

In the meantime, the 2026 World Indoor Athletics Championships are set to kick off in Torun, Poland, on Friday, although no Indian athletes will be competing.

Historically, the United States has dominated this event, amassing a total of 270 medals, including 113 golds, since its inception.