India will host the 2027 Asian Relay Championships and the 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, marking the first time these prestigious continental competitions will be held in the country. The Asian Athletics Association (AAA) finalised the hosting rights during an executive council meeting in Hong Kong, selecting Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar as the host venues. These events signify India’s rising influence in international athletics and its commitment to developing world-class sporting infrastructure.
India Secures Major Athletics Hosting Rights for 2027 and 2028
The awarding of these championships to India was confirmed by the executive council of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA), chaired by Dahlan Al Hamad. India has a history of hosting major athletics events, including the Asian Athletics Championships in 1989, 2013, and 2017. However, this will be the first time the country organizes the dedicated Asian Relay Championships and the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships.
The Asian Relay Championships is a relatively new addition to the continental calendar. The inaugural edition was held in 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, where India finished with a strong medal haul, including a gold in the mixed 4x400m relay. The 2027 event in Chandigarh will be the third edition of the championships, following the second edition scheduled for 2026 in Shaoxing, China. These competitions provide a specialized platform for sprinters and relay teams to achieve qualifying standards for global events like the World Athletics Championships and the Olympics.
Venue Focus: Chandigarh’s First International Meet in Decades
Chandigarh will host the 2027 Asian Relay Championships at the Sector 7 Sports Complex. This event marks the return of international athletics to the city after nearly 38 years, the last major international sports meet being the 1989 Asian Rowing Championship. The Sector 7 complex is equipped with an international-standard synthetic track, which was inaugurated in 2023 to provide national athletes with world-class training facilities.
In preparation for the 2027 championships, the Chandigarh sports department is planning significant upgrades to the venue. These include increasing the seating capacity to accommodate more than 7,000 spectators and enhancing the floodlighting to meet the 2,000 lux requirement for international broadcasting. The facility also features dedicated areas for various jumping and throwing events, making it a versatile hub for athletics in North India.
Bhubaneswar: The Sports Capital Prepares for a Double Header
Bhubaneswar, often called the sports capital of India, will host the 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Stadium complex. This event will serve as a crucial test run for the 2028 World Indoor Athletics Championships, which the city is scheduled to host just weeks later in March 2028. The Indoor Athletics Centre at Kalinga Stadium is the largest facility of its kind in South Asia, featuring a 200-meter synthetic track and Category 1 certification from World Athletics.
The stadium’s indoor facility is designed to host elite-level competitions with climate control and state-of-the-art equipment for events such as pole vault, long jump, and shot put. Having successfully hosted the Asian Athletics Championships in 2017, Bhubaneswar has a proven track record of delivering international sports events. The addition of the Asian and World indoor meets in 2028 further solidifies Odisha’s position as a premier destination for global athletics.
Role of the Governing Bodies: AAA and AFI
The successful bid for these championships involves coordination between the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). The AAA, established in 1973 and headquartered in Pathum Thani, Thailand, is the continental governing body for athletics in Asia. It operates under the aegis of World Athletics and is responsible for promoting and regulating the sport across the continent.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI), founded in 1946, is the nodal agency for athletics in the country. Headquartered in New Delhi, the AFI manages national teams, organizes domestic championships, and coordinates with international bodies to host global events. In January 2025, Bahadur Singh Sagoo was elected as the President of the AFI, succeeding Adille Sumariwalla. Under the AFI’s strategic roadmap, India has increasingly focused on hosting continental meets to provide domestic athletes with international exposure without the need for extensive travel.
Strategic Importance for Indian Athletics
Hosting the Asian Relay and Indoor Championships is a significant step toward achieving India’s long-term goals under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). These events allow Indian athletes to compete against the best in Asia in front of a home crowd, which can provide a psychological advantage and boost performance. The specialized nature of relay and indoor events requires specific training and infrastructure, which will receive a boost through the preparation for these championships.
Furthermore, these events contribute to the broader mission of promoting sports by inspiring young athletes and showcasing athletics as a premier career path. The development of high-performance centres, such as the one at Kalinga Stadium, ensures that Indian athletes have access to the same facilities as their international counterparts. By hosting such events, India also strengthens its position in the global sporting community and demonstrates its capability to handle the logistical complexities of multi-nation tournaments.
Key Takeaways
- India has secured the hosting rights for the 2027 Asian Relay Championships and the 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships.
- The 2027 Asian Relay Championships will be held at the Sector 7 Sports Complex in Chandigarh, marking the return of international athletics to the city after 38 years.
- The 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships will be hosted at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, which features South Asia’s largest indoor athletics facility.
- The Asian Athletics Association (AAA), founded in 1973 and headquartered in Thailand, finalized the hosting decision during its executive council meeting in Hong Kong.
- The Athletics Federation of India (AFI), established in 1946, is the national governing body responsible for organizing these events in coordination with the AAA.
- Bhubaneswar will also host the 2028 World Indoor Athletics Championships in March 2028, following the Asian meet in February.
