India to host its first ever World Athletics Continental Tour

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) will host its first World Athletics Continental Tour event in Bhubaneswar on August 10, 2025.

The AFI made the announcement on Sunday when the competition calendar for 2025 was released.

This is the second tier of international one-day meetings after the prestigious Diamond League.

The Continental Tour falls below the gold and silver levels. It will be the first time India will be hosting a global tournament after the international permit meets, held in the country in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

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India last hosted an international event 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.

The official said India is also in contention to host a marquee javelin throw event in 2025.

“We are trying for a big global javelin event and hoping to get it,” he said. India emerged as a major force to reckon with in the javelin throw since Neeraj Chopra won two Olympic medals in 2021 and 2024.