India will host its maiden World Athletics Continental Tour event — a bronze-level global meet — in Bhubaneswar on August 10, 2025, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced on Sunday.
The Continental Event, held under the aegis of World Athletics, is an annual track & field competition, forming the second tier of international one-day meetings after the prestigious Diamond League.
“The Continental Tour will be a good opportunity for the Indian team to showcase their potential on home ground before the World Championships in September,” AFI President Adille Sumariwalla said.
The home competition will allow Indian athletes to earn World Ranking points (category C) for the 2025 World Championships held in Tokyo from September 13-21.
The tour is rated below the gold and silver standard. It will be the first global athletics meet to be hosted by India after the international permit meets, held in late 1980s and early 1990s.
India hosted the World Half Marathon Championships in 2004 in New Delhi.
“This will be the first time and most prestigious global athletics event after the permit meets in the 80s and 90s and the World Half Marathon in 2004. This is a big achievement and will help athletics grow in the country,” an AFI official said.
“We are trying for a big global javelin event and hoping to get it,” he added.