Asian Athletics to inspect Kalinga for indoors

An AFI official has confirmed that the Asian body's delegation had already reached the Odisha capital on Tuesday night and would be inspecting the World Athletics-certified venue, which is all set to host its first competition -- the inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships -- next month.

Bengaluru: Asian Athletics are all set to inspect the Kalinga Indoor Athletics Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday after the Athletics Federation of India's (AFI) bid to host the 2028 edition of the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships last year. 

An AFI official has confirmed that the Asian body's delegation had already reached the Odisha capital on Thursday (February 26) night and would be inspecting the World Athletics-certified venue, which is all set to host its first competition -- the inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships -- next month.

The development comes after the World Athletics inspected the same venue following India's bid for the World Indoor Athletics Championships in the same year as the continental event.

The multipurpose Kalinga Stadium, which is right next to the indoor arena, is also set to host the WA Silver-Level Continental Tour for the first time in India (in August) after successfully hosting the bronze-level meet last year. 

AFI has either expressed interest or bid for multiple international events in the coming years, including major events such as the 2031 World Athletics Championships while India is bidding for the 2036 Olympics and are hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad.