DOHA: The eastern Indian state of Odisha has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2028 World Indoor Championships, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe announced on Thursday.
Speaking ahead of the current World Indoor Championships in Torun, Coe confirmed that the World Athletics Council had approved hosts for the next two editions of the competition.
“The World Athletics Council this morning awarded the next two editions of the event, the World Indoor Championships, to Odisha in India in 2028 and Astana in 2030,” Coe said.
He added that the outlook for the competition remains positive, noting that “the future of the World Indoor Athletics Championships is looking bright and assured.”
The selection of Odisha marks a historic milestone, as it will be the first time India hosts a major World Athletics event.
The state capital, Bhubaneswar, is expected to stage the event, with the Kalinga Stadium Complex, which includes an indoor arena, set to serve as the main venue.
Meanwhile, Amdavad, also known as Ahmedabad, has been confirmed as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which will feature a full track and field programme.
The awarding of the Commonwealth Games to Amdavad is widely seen as a strategic step towards a potential bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, as India seeks to strengthen its position on the global sporting stage.
It also reflects efforts to move past the challenges associated with the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, which were overshadowed by construction delays, infrastructure concerns and allegations of corruption.
At the time Amdavad secured the Commonwealth Games, Coe noted that India had already shown interest in hosting major global athletics events, including a long-term ambition to stage the World Athletics Championships and eventually the Olympic Games.
He described the developments as a “powerful sign of a nation thinking boldly about its sporting future.”
