India bags Asian Indoor Championships 2028 and Asian Relays 2027 hosting rights
Synopsis
India pulled off a double at the Asian Athletics Council meeting in Hong Kong — landing both the Asian Relays 2027 (Chandigarh) and the Asian Indoor Championships 2028 (Bhubaneswar). Combined with the already-confirmed World Athletics Indoor Championships 2028, Odisha alone will host three elite global athletics events in consecutive years — a run that cements India's emergence as the continent's premier track-and-field destination.
Key Takeaways
India was awarded hosting rights for the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2028 and the Asian Relays 2027 at the Asian Athletics Council meeting in Hong Kong on 27 May .
Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium will host the Asian Indoor Championships 2028 ; Chandigarh will host the Asian Relays 2027 .
Bhubaneswar is also confirmed to host the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2028 , making it the venue for two major global athletics events in the same year.
World Athletics vice president Adille Sumariwalla confirmed the awards on X , calling it a 'very proud moment for India.' Odisha previously hosted the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships and a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event that drew over 200 athletes from around the world.
India has been awarded the hosting rights for the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2028 and the Asian Relays 2027, following a decision taken at the Asian Athletics Council meeting in Hong Kong on Wednesday, 27 May. The twin awards mark a significant boost to India's standing as a major host nation for global athletics.
Which Cities Will Host
Bhubaneswar in Odisha will host the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2028, to be held at the iconic Kalinga Stadium. Chandigarh, meanwhile, has been selected as the venue for the Asian Relays 2027. The decisions were confirmed by World Athletics vice president and Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwalla, who shared the news on X.
'Congratulations @afiindia. Chandigarh has been awarded the Asian Relays and Bhubaneswar the Asian Indoor Championships 2028. The Asian Athletics Council made these decisions in Hong Kong today. Very proud moment for India,' Sumariwalla posted.
Odisha's Growing Sports Legacy
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi welcomed the announcement, calling it 'another milestone in establishing Odisha as a premier global sports hub.' In a post on X, he noted that the state's world-class infrastructure and track record in managing large-scale international events had been central to securing the bid.
'Ahead of the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2028 to be organised at the Kalinga Stadium, hosting this Asian tournament adds another golden chapter to our sporting achievements,' CM Manjhi added. Notably, Bhubaneswar is already confirmed to host the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2028 — a decision taken by the World Athletics Council in March 2025.
India's Track Record as Athletics Host
The latest awards build on a strong hosting history. The 2017 Asian Athletics Championships were held at Kalinga Stadium, putting Bhubaneswar on the continental athletics map. Last year, Odisha hosted the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Level Competition in Bhubaneswar, drawing over 200 athletes from across the world — demonstrating the state's operational readiness for elite-level competition.
This is the third consecutive cycle in which India has secured a major Asian athletics hosting mandate, reflecting the country's growing influence within the Asian Athletics Association and the confidence international bodies have placed in its infrastructure.
What This Means for Indian Athletics
Hosting back-to-back marquee events — the Asian Relays in 2027 and the Asian Indoor Championships in 2028 — gives Indian athletes the advantage of competing on home soil ahead of the global calendar. It also provides a pipeline of high-visibility events to develop young track-and-field talent, a priority that CM Manjhi explicitly flagged, saying the success would 'give new global recognition to our young sporting talents.'
With the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2028 also locked in for Bhubaneswar, India is set to host three major athletics events in consecutive years — a run that few Asian nations have matched.
Point of View
State-driven investment in athletics infrastructure, which the central sports establishment has learned to leverage diplomatically. The more consequential detail is the 2028 overlap: Bhubaneswar will host both the Asian Indoor Championships and the World Athletics Indoor Championships in the same year, a logistical stress-test that will either cement or complicate its global reputation. The real question is whether these home events translate into podium performances for Indian athletes, or remain, as has sometimes been the case, impressive stagecraft without a corresponding medals story.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cities in India will host the Asian Indoor Championships 2028 and Asian Relays 2027?
Bhubaneswar will host the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2028 at Kalinga Stadium, while Chandigarh will host the Asian Relays 2027. Both decisions were made at the Asian Athletics Council meeting in Hong Kong on 27 May.
Who confirmed India's hosting rights for the Asian athletics events?
World Athletics vice president and Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwalla confirmed the awards in a post on X. He described it as a 'very proud moment for India.'
Is Bhubaneswar also hosting the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2028?
Yes. The World Athletics Council had already awarded India the hosting rights for the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2028 in March 2025, also to be held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The Asian Indoor Championships 2028 will now precede that event at the same venue.
What is Odisha's track record in hosting international athletics events?
Odisha hosted the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships at Kalinga Stadium and, last year, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Level Competition in Bhubaneswar that attracted over 200 athletes from around the world. These events established the state as a credible host for elite international athletics.
Why does hosting these events matter for Indian athletics?
Back-to-back home events in 2027 and 2028 give Indian athletes the advantage of competing on familiar ground before the global calendar, while also providing high-profile platforms to develop young track-and-field talent. Officials have said the events will raise India's global sporting profile and inspire the next generation of athletes.
