Chennai to host 2029 Asian Athletics Championships
The Asian Athletics Association has awarded the hosting rights to Chennai, subject to the submission of government guarantee letters.
Chennai is set to host the 2029 Asian Athletics Championships, according to a statement from the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) on Tuesday. The event is likely to be held in August at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, according to Tamil Nadu Athletics Association (TNAA) chairman C. Latha.
The AAA confirmed the award is subject to the presentation of letters of guarantee from the government. The New Indian Express reported that these guarantees from the state government are expected to be submitted on Wednesday.
During an Asian Athletics Federation Council meeting in Tokyo, the TNAA and the State government presented the Nehru Stadium as the venue. The presentation highlighted the stadium's legacy of hosting international meets, the availability of the Nehru ‘B’ ground for practice, and the proximity of hotels and an international airport.
C.K. Valson, a member of the Competition Commission for Asian Athletics, inspected the Nehru Stadium last week. Latha said Valson was happy with the infrastructure but advised making arrangements for VIP lounges, modifying seating, and installing LED screens.
This will be the fourth time India hosts the championships, following previous editions in New Delhi in 1989, Pune in 2013, and Bhubaneswar in 2017, as reported by Sportstar.
The State government must now send a letter to the president of the Asia Athletics Federation confirming it will bear the entire cost of hosting the meet.