Bhubaneswar hosts India's first National Indoor Athletics Championships

Key facts

• The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar has been named as the venue for the World Indoor Athletics Championships to be held from 3-5 March 2028.
• India is hosting its maiden national indoor athletics championship in Bhubaneswar as a preparatory step towards conducting the 2028 global showpiece.
• The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) worked in coordination with the Odisha government to secure the hosting rights for the 2028 world event.
• The indoor facility at Kalinga Stadium features a 200m synthetic oval track and a 100m straight track, both compliant with World Athletics Category 1 standards.
• The national championship consists of 11 events for both men and women, including 60m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 60m hurdles, high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, and shot put.
• Approximately 300 athletes are participating in the national championships, with Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra sending the largest contingents of around 30 athletes each.
• National record holders Animesh Kujur, Mohammed Afsal, and Praveen Chitravel are among the key competitors in the indoor event.
• The AFI is also bidding to host the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar in 2028, with a decision expected from the Asian Athletics Association in May.
• The indoor facility at Kalinga Stadium has a spectator seating capacity of approximately 1700.