Adille Sumariwalla has praised the world class indoor facility at Kalinga Stadium, calling it one of the finest in South Asia as Bhubaneswar prepares to host the prestigious World Indoor Athletics Championships 2028. In a historic achievement, the Odisha capital will become the first Indian city to host a global track and field championship after India secured the hosting rights at the World Athletics council meeting held in Torun, which will host the 2026 edition of the event.

Expressing his excitement, Sumariwalla, who is a former president of the Athletics Federation of India and currently a vice president of World Athletics, highlighted India’s growing sports infrastructure and credited Odisha for its continuous investment in world class facilities. He noted that the country now boasts excellent stadiums, strong airport connectivity and quality hospitality, all of which are essential for hosting international sporting events. Aligning with the vision of Narendra Modi to transform India into a global sporting powerhouse, Sumariwalla emphasised that such global bids are aimed at showcasing India’s rapid development in sports.

The 2028 championship, scheduled from March 3 to 5, will mark the first time India hosts a global indoor athletics meet. Mohan Charan Majhi described the achievement as a proud moment for both Odisha and the nation, thanking World Athletics and the Athletics Federation of India for their trust. He reiterated that Odisha has positioned sports as a key pillar of its development strategy over the past decade, focusing on building world class infrastructure, nurturing athletes and creating high performance ecosystems. Hosting the championship is expected to further strengthen India’s sporting culture and inspire future generations.

Kalinga Stadium stands out as the only sporting complex in India that integrates an indoor athletics stadium, a main stadium, practice arenas and a dedicated sports science centre within a single campus. The facility will soon host the inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships on March 24 and 25, which will act as a test event ahead of the global competition in 2028.

The upcoming international championship is also expected to bring global stars to India, with the possibility of seeing top athletes like Armand Duplantis in action. Popularly known as Mondo, the Swedish pole vault legend has rewritten the world record 15 times since 2020, making him one of the most dominant figures in modern athletics. His potential participation would further elevate the excitement and global attention around the event.

With world class infrastructure, strong government backing and growing international recognition, Bhubaneswar is set to emerge as a major global sporting destination as it gears up to host one of the most prestigious events in athletics.