Apart from National Indoor Championships, the Athletics Federation of India also plans to conduct indoor heptathlon and pole vault competition.

The inaugural edition of the National Indoor Championships will be held in January, Bahadur Singh Sagoo, president of AFI (Athletics Federation of India) said. “The National Indoor Championships was on cards and we have incorporated it in the 2026 domestic calendar,” the AFI president added. “Bhubaneswar’s indoor stadium in Odisha will be the venue for the first edition of the competition.”

The AFI has also bid for the 2028 Asian Indoor Championships. According to Sagoo apart from National Indoor Championships the AFI also plans to conduct indoor competition in pole vault (men and women) and heptathlon. “The 2026 domestic calendar will be exciting,” he added.

Events for the indoor heptathlon for men consists of seven disciplines spread over two days. The events are 60m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1,000m. The first four events are held on day-one while the remaining three events on day-two of the gruelling competition.

The 2026 domestic calendar will be finalised shortly, Sagoo added. “The packed 2026 domestic calendar will feature close to 40 competitions,” the AFI president said. “The main focus is to strengthen the domestic ecosystem.”

The AFI —the national governing body of track and field in India—had introduced regional competitions in the 2025 calendar year. The response was good, the AFI president said.

“Regional events in the South and North Zone attracted a good number of athletes this year. Hence there is a plan to further increase the number to provide opportunities to young athletes,” the AFI president added. 

As part of its programme to build a solid domestic foundation, the 2026 domestic calendar will be structured keeping in mind two major multidiscipline competitions—Commonwealth Games and Asian,” Sagoo added.

The AFI shortlisted more than 15 venues across the country to conduct the regional level events in 2025, including Anju Bobby Sports Foundation in Bengaluru. “Regional competitions in the neighbourhood gave more opportunities to promising athletes to showcase their potential. Having quality competition in the backyard is not taxing on the competitors as they have to travel less to compete,” the AFI president said.

ENDS