Chennai to host Asian Athletics Championships in 2029, bringing continental event back to India

Chennai likely to host 2029 Asian Athletics Championships as India prepares for another major event

India could soon add another major international athletics competition to its sporting calendar, with Chennai emerging as the likely host of the 2029 Asian Athletics Championships. The Asian Athletics Association (AAA) has indicated its willingness to award the event to the Tamil Nadu capital, pending the submission of financial and administrative guarantees by the state government.

The proposal was discussed during the AAA’s 107th council meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday. While Chennai has received an in-principle approval, the official announcement will follow once the required assurances are submitted.

In its statement, the continental governing body said it was pleased to award the 2029 championships to Chennai, subject to receiving guarantee letters from the government.

FINAL APPROVAL AWAITS STATE GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES

C Latha, a senior official of the Tamil Nadu Athletics Association, confirmed that Chennai’s hosting proposal had been presented before the AAA council. She is currently in Tokyo as part of the Indian contingent.

Speaking to PTI, Latha said the association had been asked to provide financial and other necessary guarantees from the state government before the hosting rights could be formally confirmed.

The documents were expected to be submitted on Wednesday, raising hopes that the final announcement would follow shortly.

World Athletics Vice President and Athletics Federation of India (AFI) spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla also attended the meeting. He confirmed that Chennai would receive the hosting rights once the required government guarantees were in place.

INDIA SET FOR THIRD ASIAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

If the proposal receives final approval, India will host the Asian Athletics Championships for the third time.

The country previously staged the continental competition in Pune in 2013 and Bhubaneswar in 2017. Chennai would become the third Indian city to organise the event, with the 2029 edition marking the competition’s 28th instalment.

The championships are held every two years and bring together leading athletes from across Asia to compete in various track and field disciplines.

Before Chennai’s proposed edition, the 27th Asian Athletics Championships will be held in Xiamen, China, from May 28 to June 2, 2027.

INDIA STRENGTHENS ITS ATHLETICS HOSTING CALENDAR

The proposed Chennai event is part of India’s wider efforts to establish itself as a major destination for international athletics competitions.

Several important championships are already scheduled to take place in the country over the next few years.

Chandigarh is set to host the Asian Relays Championships in August 2027. In 2028, Bhubaneswar will stage two major competitions — the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships and the World Indoor Athletics Championships.

India is also bidding to host the World U20 Athletics Championships in Ahmedabad in 2028.

If these plans materialise, the country will have a busy international athletics calendar, offering domestic athletes greater opportunities to compete at home while strengthening India’s position on the global sporting stage.

For Chennai, securing the 2029 Asian Athletics Championships would be another significant milestone in its sporting journey and bring one of Asia’s biggest track and field events to Tamil Nadu.