Bhubaneswar, March 20: Odisha to host prestigious World Athletics Indoor Championships-2028 her at iconic Kalinga Stadium, Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj informed CM Mohan Charan Majhi. The World Athletics Council has selected Odisha in India to host the World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2028.
The event was awarded during the 240th World Athletics Council Meeting held in Toruń, Poland, ahead of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26.
The awarding of the 2028 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships to Hefei in China was also among the decisions made during the two-day meeting on Wednesday and Thursday (18-19 March).
The 2028 World Indoor Championships will see India host a global track and field championships for the first time, from 3-5 March 2028. Odisha, the eastern Indian state on the Bay of Bengal, held the Asian Championships in 2017, while the state has also hosted a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting.
“Extremely proud to share that #Odisha is hosting the World Athletics Indoor Championships, 2028. With the Odisha edition, the prestigious event is back in India after 22 long years. This milestone reflects our emergence as a global sporting hub and our unwavering commitment to world-class excellence,” Majhi said in a post on X.Asserting that the state has arrived on the global stage, he said the world is ready to witness the love for sports that the state has.
The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya for his continued guidance and support in strengthening the sports ecosystem.
“This is a proud moment not only for Odisha but for the entire nation of India,” said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. “We extend our sincere gratitude to World Athletics and the Athletics Federation of India for placing trust in Odisha to host one of the most prestigious championships in global athletics,” he said.
Over the past decade, Odisha has made sport a central pillar of its development vision. Through sustained investment in world-class sporting infrastructure, athlete development programmes, and high-performance ecosystems, Odisha has emerged as a leading destination for international sporting events, the Chief Minister said. “Hosting the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2028 will further strengthen our commitment to building a vibrant sporting culture while inspiring the next generation of athletes across India,” he added.
Welcoming the Council to the city of Toruń on the eve of the World Indoor Championships, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: “Poland is one of the heartlands of global athletics and one that has a long and distinguished athletics tradition, producing Olympic champions and world record-holders across multiple disciplines over the past century. Poland continues to produce world-class athletes, many of whom will be competing here in Toruń over the long weekend.
“In awarding the next two editions of this storied championships to Odisha and Astana, I am delighted that the World Indoors continues to go from strength to strength, captivating audiences around the world, and that our next two hosts reflect our strategy of taking our events to emerging markets,” he said.
Holding the 2028 World Race Walking Team Championships in Hefei, on 9 April 2028, continues a four-year athletics journey through China, following World Athletics Series events in Nanjing (2025), Guangzhou (2025), Yangzhou (2027) and Beijing (2027).
The rapidly growing capital of Anhui Province in Eastern China boasts a population of 10 million people and is a key economic player in the region.
“We sincerely appreciate the recognition and trust extended by World Athletics to China and Hefei,” said Chinese Athletics Association President Sun Yuanfu.
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