India expresses intent to host 2028 U20 World Athletics Championships

India has formally expressed its interest in hosting the 2028 Under-20 World Athletics Championships.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) submitted a "declaration of intent" to the World Athletics (WA), as confirmed by WA president Sebastian Coe during his visit to Mumbai.

"I’m pleased to say that I take home a declaration of intent, a letter of application to join the bidding discussions for the 2028 Under-20 World Championships," Coe said, adding that India’s participation in the bidding process is "moving in the right direction."

World Athletics had invited bids for the 2028 and 2030 editions of the championships earlier this year.

Coe, a legendary middle-distance runner and a potential candidate for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency, emphasized that athletes remain central to all policy-making efforts, including in his upcoming manifesto for the IOC elections.

During his visit, Coe met with key Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and held discussions with representatives of Tata Communications, which holds broadcasting rights for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships set for 2026.

Coe also addressed critical issues in global sports governance, including athlete welfare and mental health. "Athletes are, quite rightly, more demanding around issues like welfare and mental health. All those things are important," he stated.

On the controversial issue of transgender participation in women’s sports, Coe reiterated WA's commitment to a clear and fair stance while calling for the IOC to provide unambiguous guidelines for global consistency.