India and Kazakhstan to Host World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2028 and 2030

In a significant stride for global athletics, the World Athletics Council has awarded the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships to Odisha, India, and the 2030 edition to Astana, Kazakhstan. The decisions were made during the 240th World Athletics Council Meeting held in Toruń, Poland, on March 19, 2026, ahead of the 2026 World Indoor Championships.

Expanding Athletics to Emerging Markets

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe emphasized that awarding the championships to India and Kazakhstan aligns with the organization’s strategy to expand the sport’s reach into emerging markets. “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,” Coe stated. [Source: Running Magazine]

India’s Historic First

The 2028 World Indoor Championships will mark the first time India has hosted a global track and field championship. Odisha, located on the Bay of Bengal, previously hosted the Asian Championships in 2017 and a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting. [Source: Times Now News] The event will be held from March 3-5, 2028.

Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi expressed pride in the selection, stating, “This is a proud moment not only for Odisha but for the entire nation of India.” He highlighted the state’s commitment to sports development through investment in infrastructure and athlete programs. [Source: Times Now News]

Kazakhstan to Host in 2030

Astana, Kazakhstan, will host the 2030 World Athletics Indoor Championships from March 15-17, 2030. The city has prior experience hosting major athletics events, including the Asian Indoor Championships in 2023 and World Indoor Tour Gold meetings in 2024, and 2025. [Source: Running Magazine]

Kazakhstan Athletics Federation President Askhat Khasenov expressed gratitude for the trust placed in the country and pledged to deliver a high-standard event. [Source: Running Magazine]

Continued Growth in China

The World Athletics Council also awarded the 2028 World Race Walking Team Championships to Hefei, China, continuing a four-year athletics journey through China that includes events in Nanjing and Guangzhou in 2025, and Yangzhou and Beijing in 2027. [Source: Running Magazine]

Updates to Qualification Principles and Regulations

During the meeting, the Council approved fresh principles governing qualification for the World Athletics Championships and the Olympic Games. These principles, endorsed by the Athletes’ Commission, will see 40% of athletes qualify through entry standards and 60% through world rankings. [Source: Running Magazine]

Amendments were also made to the Eligibility Rules and Transfer of Allegiance Regulations, addressing concerns about athlete recruitment and ensuring a genuine connection between athletes and the countries they represent. [Source: Running Magazine]

Updates to technical rules, including clarifications on false starts in combined events and the utilize of pacing, were also approved. The Athletic Shoe Regulations were updated to remove throwing events from their scope, allowing athletes to wear footwear of their choice in those disciplines. [Source: Running Magazine]