India Set To Host First-Ever World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Meet In Bhubaneswar

India will host its first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet in Bhubaneswar on August 22, 2026, marking a major upgrade from the bronze-level event staged at the same venue this year, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced on Tuesday.

The elevation to silver means more ranking points, stronger international participation, and a significant boost to India’s global athletics footprint.

The Kalinga Stadium, which hosted the bronze meet on August 10, now steps into a higher league of world-class competition.

India’s 2026 Athletics Calendar Gets Bigger and Stronger

The World Athletics Continental Tour is the second tier of global one-day meets (after the Diamond League) and features three levels: gold, silver, and bronze.

India’s

climb to silver marks a significant step toward attracting elite international athletes.

The AFI also confirmed a major shift in dates for the inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships, now rescheduled from January to March 24–25, also in Bhubaneswar at the Kalinga Stadium’s new indoor facility.

Additionally, Bhubaneswar will host the first Indian Indoor Open Combined Events and Pole Vault Competition on May 2–3.

A Packed 2026 Season: 40 Domestic Competitions

The 2026 calendar will feature 40 events, up from 32 last year, aimed at sharpening the country’s senior and junior athletes ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Japan (September 19–October 4).

New additions include the Indian Athletics Series, a 16-leg regional circuit running from April to September to give younger athletes more competition exposure.

Mandatory Competitions for Nationals & Asian Games Selection

Athletes will now need to meet participation criteria:

• Minimum two competitions to qualify for the National Senior Federation Championships (May 22–25, Ranchi)
• Minimum three competitions, including state meets, to enter the National Inter-State Senior Championships (July 8–12, Bhubaneswar)

National coach P. Radhakrishnan Nair added that participation in certain domestic events will likely be mandatory for selection to both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

The third major national meet of the year, the National Open Championships, will take place in New Delhi from October 8–11.

(with PTI inputs)