India will host its maiden World Athletics Continental Tour event — a bronze-level global meet — in Bhubaneswar on August 10 next year.
This was announced by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) while releasing the competition calendar for 2025 on Sunday.
This will be the first global athletics meet to be hosted by India after the international permit meets, held in the country in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The bronze level Tour meet is below the gold and silver levels.
The Continental Tour is an annual series of track and field competitions held under the aegis of World Athletics and it forms the second tier of international one-day meetings after the prestigious Diamond League.
The country also 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,” AFI said.
Besides, India is also likely to host a “big” global-level javelin meet next year.
Inspired by the Olympic triumphs of Neeraj Chopra, India is rapidly establishing itself as a global force in javelin throw.
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Currently, India boasts more than half a dozen javelin throwers capable of launching the spear beyond the 80-meter mark.
