World Athletics vice-president Adille Sumariwalla announced on Wednesday that Chandigarh will host the 2027 Asian Relays and Bhubaneswar the 2028 Asian Indoor Championships. | Photo Credit: MOORTHY RV

The Indian cities of Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar were on Wednesday awarded the hosting rights for next year’s Asian Relays and the 2028 Asian Indoor Championships, respectively, by the continent’s athletics governing body during its executive council meeting in Hong Kong.

The Asian Athletics Association’s (AAA) council meeting was held ahead of the Asian Under-20 Championships, scheduled from May 28 to 31.

“India has got the Asian Relays in 2027 to be held in Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar will host the Asian Indoor Championships in 2028. It’s a very proud moment for the country,” World Athletics vice-president Adille Sumariwalla, who attended the AAA council meeting in Hong Kong, told PTI.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had last year submitted bids to host both events.

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The Asian Relays in Chandigarh will be the third edition of the event. The inaugural edition was held in Bangkok in 2024, while the second will be held in Shaoxing, China, from June 20 to 21 this year.

The state-of-the-art indoor facility at the Kalinga Stadium complex in Bhubaneswar will be the venue for the 2028 Asian Indoor Championships, likely in February.

The same venue will also host the 2028 World Indoor Championships from March 3 to 5. The inaugural national indoor championships was held in March at the same facility.

India getting the hosting rights for two Asian events is in line with the country’s efforts to stage continental and global events in the coming years.

India has also formally expressed interest in hosting the 2028 World Under-20 Championships as well as either the 2029 or 2031 edition of the senior World Athletics Championships.

Published on May 27, 2026