"India emerged as preferred sports competition destination with 36 international competitions hosted in two years": Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya
New Delhi, July 9
As India accelerates its preparations to host the Commonwealth Games 2030 and strengthens its bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2036, the country is steadily establishing itself as one of the world's most capable destinations for international sporting events.
Between January 2025 and June 2026, India successfully hosted 36 international sporting competitions across more than 15 cities, showcasing not only world-class sporting infrastructure but also its growing organisational expertise in delivering events across a wide range of Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines, according to a press release from MYAS.
The competitions ranged from World Championships and Asian Championships to World Cups, international ranking tournaments and continental qualifiers, covering sports such as athletics, hockey, badminton, shooting, boxing, table tennis, football, aquatics, para sports, chess, cycling, fencing, volleyball, rugby, surfing and many more.
Many of these events marked historic milestones, with India hosting several prestigious competitions for the very first time while also producing record-breaking performances by Indian athletes on home soil.
Speaking about the importance of hosting these international sporting events in India, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya said, "Hosting international competitions has become a key pillar in India's sporting ecosystem. Apart from enhancing the nation's global reputation, these events provide invaluable competitive exposure for Indian athletes, reduce the financial burden of overseas participation, strengthen technical expertise among officials and volunteers, and create lasting sporting infrastructure and operational capabilities across multiple cities. As we prepare to host CWG 2030 and bid for the Olympics 2036, the experience gained from hosting events in 15 cities will help us strengthen our capabilities further."
The momentum is set to continue throughout the remainder of the year. Eleven more international competitions are already scheduled between July and December 2026, including the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, World Snooker Championships, Para Archery Asia Cup, World Surf League events, Asian Junior Chess Championships and several international badminton, football and rugby competitions.
India's sporting calendar extends well beyond 2026. The country has already secured the hosting rights for 19 major international competitions during 2027 and 2028, including marquee events such as the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2028 in Bhubaneswar, the ISSF World Cup and Asian Shooting Championships, Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, FIH Pro League home leg, international badminton tournaments and several World Surf League, table tennis and para athletics events.
Beyond these confirmed events, several National Sports Federations (NSFs) are actively pursuing bids to bring additional continental and world championships to India, reflecting the country's growing confidence and credibility within the international sporting community.
Indeed, from New Delhi and Ahmedabad to Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Goa, Guwahati, Rajgir, Patna, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, and Mahabalipuram, cities across the country are increasingly becoming hubs for international sport.
As India continues its journey towards hosting the Commonwealth Games 2030 and realising its Olympic aspirations for 2036, the successful delivery of more than 65 confirmed international competitions between 2025 and 2028 serves as a powerful demonstration of the country's readiness, capability and long-term vision to emerge as a leading global sporting nation.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Amazing to see India stepping up! 🏆 From surfing in Mahabalipuram to chess in Chennai, it's a diverse lineup. I just wish our athletes got more medal-focused training instead of all this event management. Hosting is great, but winning medals should be the priority, no?
"World Surf League events" in India? Now that's something I never imagined! The fact that we're hosting competitions in so many different sports shows how our mindset is changing. We're no longer just cricket-crazy—that's progress. Let's hope the sporting culture trickles down to schools and colleges.
Impressive numbers, but I'd like to see more transparency on how these events are funded. Is it taxpayer money or private sponsorship? Also, what about the environmental impact of building all these venues? Sustainable sports development should be the focus, not just counting how many events we host.
Bhai, this is brilliant! After the success of the 2023 World Cup and Youth Olympics, we're truly on a roll. But let's not forget the basics—cleanliness, traffic management, and hospitality for foreign athletes. Delhi hosted CWG 2010 and we all know how that went. Learn from past mistakes please 🙏
My cousin is a para athlete and she's thrilled about the Para Archery Asia Cup coming to India! For too long, our para sports were ignored—hosting events like these gives them the platform they deserve. Mandaviya sir is doing good work, but we need more accessibility and inclusivity in these events.