A delegation from World Athletics and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) visited Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar as India prepares to bid for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2028.
The delegation toured the Indoor Athletic Centre and examined the facilities within the Kalinga Stadium Complex.
A high-level meeting was held, chaired by Odisha’s Minister of Sports and Youth Services, Suryabanshi Suraj. Attendees included Commissioner-cum-Secretary of DSYS, Sachin R. Jadhav; Vice President of World Athletics, Adille J. Sumariwalla; Competition & Events Director of World Athletics, Marton Gyulai; Head of Bidding at World Athletics, Mark Hurst; Chairman of the Technical Committee, AFI, Ravinder Chaudhary; and Bidding Expert, AFI, Vijay Kumar Verma.
“Odisha has the necessary facilities to host sporting events at all levels. We have strong fan support and, after successfully conducting the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze last year, we are set to host the Silver Meet this year. I hope we can collaborate with World Athletics and AFI to add this prestigious milestone to our sporting journey,” expressed the Sports Minister.
“In line with the Prime Minister’s vision, India is bidding for the World Indoor Athletics Championships in 2028. The infrastructure, hospitality, and sporting culture in Bhubaneswar meet global standards, making it an ideal venue for the championships,” said Dr. Sumariwalla.
“Odisha is one of the leading sports hubs in the country, with extensive experience in hosting major events. Today, some of India’s finest sprinters come from Odisha. We are committed to advancing athletics and investing in stadiums at the block level across 314 blocks. We are confident in our ability to host events at even larger scales and look forward to collaborating with World Athletics and AFI to make this global event a historic success,” shared the Sports Secretary.
