India Sets Sights on Hosting 2029 or 2031 World Athletics Championships
Strategic Bid Aims to Bolster India’s 2036 Olympics Ambitions
India is gearing up to bid for both the 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships, with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) adopting a “strategic” approach to secure hosting rights for one of the prestigious events, according to AFI spokesperson and World Athletics Vice-President Adille Sumariwalla. The announcement was made on Sunday during the inaugural NC Classic international javelin event, won by India’s double Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra.
World Athletics will select hosts for both championships in September 2026, with the expression of interest deadline set for October 1, 2025. Initial applications are due by April 1, 2026, followed by final submissions by August 5, 2026. “We are going to do strategic bidding for 2029 and 2031. Whichever edition we get is fine,” Sumariwalla told PTI, emphasizing flexibility in securing one of the events.
The AFI’s dual bid aligns with India’s broader goal of hosting the 2036 Olympics, with the championships seen as a stepping stone to demonstrate the country’s capability to manage global sporting events. However, hosting the 2029 edition may face challenges, as Asia is already set to host the 2025 (Tokyo) and 2027 (Beijing) championships, potentially making 2031 a more realistic target to avoid three consecutive Asian-hosted events.
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India is also eyeing the 2028 World U20 Championships, having submitted an expression of interest during World Athletics President Sebastian Coe’s visit in late 2024. The hosts for the 2028 and 2030 junior championships will be announced in December 2025, with bid deadlines on September 22 and November 7, 2025. Additionally, India plans to bid for future World Athletics Relays post-2028, after Botswana (2026) and the Bahamas (2028).
With Neeraj Chopra’s global success and India’s growing athletics profile, the AFI is leveraging these bids to elevate the nation’s sporting legacy and prepare for the 2036 Olympics, where it aims to win 5-6 medals.
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