Chennai to host 2029 Asian Athletics Championships
The city will become the fourth Indian location to stage the continental event, pending official financial and government assurances.
Chennai has been awarded the rights to host the 2029 Asian Athletics Championships, according to The Assam Tribune. The decision was announced by the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) during a council meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
The hosting is conditional upon the Tamil Nadu government providing necessary letters of guarantee. Tamil Nadu Athletics Association (TNAA) chairman C Latha said the championships are likely to take place in August.
Latha noted that the presentation for the bid highlighted the infrastructure at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the availability of practice facilities at the Nehru ‘B’ ground. The bid also emphasised the city's international airport and hotel capacity.
C.K. Valson, a member of the Competition Commission for Asian Athletics, recently inspected the Nehru Stadium. Latha stated that Valson was satisfied with the infrastructure but advised making arrangements for LED screens, seating modifications, and VIP lounges.
This will mark the fourth time India hosts the event, following previous editions in New Delhi in 1989, Pune in 2013, and Bhubaneswar in 2017. The state government is expected to submit the required guarantees on Wednesday.
India's athletics calendar includes the Asian Relays Championships in Chandigarh in 2027, and both the Asian Indoor and World Indoor Championships in Odisha in 2028.