Running News Daily

In a landmark decision that underscores the continued globalization of athletics, the World Athletics Council, during its 240th meeting in Toruń, officially confirmed the host cities for three major upcoming championships—each reflecting the sport’s expanding footprint and growing appeal across Asia.

India, Kazakhstan, and China have emerged as the chosen hosts for prestigious global events, signaling both trust in their organizational capabilities and recognition of their increasing influence in the athletics world.

The eastern Indian state of Odisha has been awarded the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships. Known for its passionate support of sport and its rapidly developing infrastructure, Odisha continues its rise as a prominent destination on the international athletics calendar. This selection builds on India’s broader ambition to establish itself as a global sporting hub.

Two years later, the spotlight will shift to Central Asia, where Astana will host the 2030 edition of the same championships. Astana’s modern facilities and strategic vision position it as an exciting new frontier for indoor athletics, promising a unique blend of elite competition and cultural vibrancy.

Meanwhile, the 2028 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships have been awarded to Hefei. The Chinese city, already familiar with hosting international competitions, is expected to deliver a technically sound and highly competitive event in one of athletics’ most demanding disciplines.

These selections reflect more than logistical planning—they represent a deliberate shift toward inclusivity and global reach. By bringing premier competitions to diverse regions, World Athletics continues to inspire new generations of athletes while strengthening the sport’s worldwide community.

As the road to 2028 and 2030 begins, anticipation will steadily build. New stadiums will come alive, new heroes will emerge, and new stories will be written—each step, stride, and finish line contributing to the ever-evolving legacy of athletics.

The 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships, set to take place from March 21-23 in Nanjing, China, marks the long-awaited return of the competition after a five-year hiatus. Originally scheduled for 2020, the event was postponed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making this edition one of the most highly anticipated in recent history. With over 500 athletes from approximately 120 nations, the championships will feature world-class competition across 26 events, including the debut of the 4x400m mixed relay as an official indoor discipline.

The Venue: A World-Class Stage in Nanjing

The championships will be held at Nanjing’s Cube, a cutting-edge indoor arena within the Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park. Completed in 2019, the venue boasts state-of-the-art facilities designed to accommodate both athletes and spectators, providing an optimal environment for record-breaking performances.

Exciting Events and New Additions

The championship program features sprints, middle-distance races, hurdles, jumps, throws, and combined events, offering fans three days of intense competition. The 4x400m mixed relay will be contested for the first time at the indoor championships, following its successful debut in outdoor competition. The race order—man, woman, man, woman—adds a strategic element, and the world record standard has been set at 3:12.44.

Qualification and the World Indoor Tour

This year’s World Athletics Indoor Tour, now in its tenth season, plays a crucial role in the road to Nanjing. Featuring over 60 competitions across Europe, North America, and Asia, the tour provides top athletes with an opportunity to secure qualification for the championships. Nine Gold-level meetings were part of the 2025 circuit, beginning in Astana, Kazakhstan, on January 25 and concluding in Madrid, Spain, on February 28.

Athletes who finished as the top point scorers in their disciplines earned a $10,000 bonus and automatic entry into the championships. This season’s scoring disciplines included:

• Women: 60m, 800m, 3000m/5000m, pole vault, triple jump, shot put

• Men: 400m, 1500m/mile, 60m hurdles, high jump, long jump

Star Athletes to Watch

Several elite athletes have confirmed their participation, ensuring a thrilling showdown in Nanjing. Some of the biggest names expected to compete include:

Sprints and Hurdles

Grant Holloway of the United States, the reigning world champion and world record holder in the 60m hurdles, is aiming for his third consecutive world indoor title. He recently extended his 82-race unbeaten streak in the event, making him a strong favorite.

Robin Ganter of Germany, fresh off his 60m national title with a personal best of 6.56 seconds, is a rising contender in the short sprints.

Middle-Distance & Distance Races

Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia, the defending world indoor 800m champion, has been dominant in recent races, including a victory at the Copernicus Cup in Poland.

Stefan Nillessen of the Netherlands broke the national indoor 3000m record with a time of 7:37.10 and clocked a personal best of 3:52.70 in the mile, making him one to watch in the middle-distance events.

What to Expect

With record chases, title defenses, and rising stars looking to make their mark, the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships promises electrifying competition. Fans can expect intense battles on the track, thrilling jumps and throws, and potential record-breaking performances as the world’s best athletes gather in Nanjing for three days of world-class indoor athletics.

Stay tuned to My Best Runs for updates, race previews, and athlete insights as the countdown to Nanjing continues!

Kipsang won the race in his debut over the 42 km distance in 2014 in 2:09:55. He went on to clock his personal best with 2:07:30 in Seoul in 2016 and will aim at breaking the Florence course record held by his compatriot James Kutto who clocked 2:08:40 in 2006. Kipsang finished third in Shanghai in 2:09:02 and sixth in Paris in 2:08:29 in 2017.

Moroccan Hicham Bofars, 31, also returns to Florence, where he finished second last year in personal best of 2:12:16. Bofars ran all his three marathon races in Florence in 2014, 2015 and 2018.

Kenyan Peter Kirui Cheruiyot boasts solid personal best times in the half marathon with 59:22 from Prague in 2014 and in the marathon with 2:06:31 from Frankfurt in 2011.

Gilbert Kipleting Chumba from Kenya has already run on Italian soil and won the past two editions of the Treviso Marathon - in 2018 he clocked his personal best of 2:12:19.

The Ethiopian contingent will be represented by Gereme Azmeraw Mengistu and Nigussie Sahlesilassie Bekele. Mengistu set his personal best of 2:12:27 in November 2016. Bekele won the Stockolm marathon last June in 2:10:10, also a personal best.

Morocco’s Hicham Amghar, who has a 1:00:23 half marathon PB, will make his marathon debut.

The best Italian runner in the field is Ahmed Nasef, who won two national marathon titles and set his marathon career best of 2:10:59 in 2012.

The fastest runner in the women’s field is Ethiopia’s Dinknesh Mekash Tefera, who set her career best of 2:23:12 in Frankfurt in 2015. Tefera will take on her compatriot Amelework Bosho Fekadu, who has a 2:32:39 PB, Kenya’s Salina Jebet (winner in Astana 2018 in 2:31:06) and Burundi’s 21-year-old Elvanie Nimbona, who finished second in Padua last April in 2:30:28.

Croatian ultra-marathon specialist Nikolina Sustic set her previous marathon career best of 2:41:11 in Florence last year and improved this time to 2:37:55 in Padua in 2019. Former European U23 cross country champion Jess Piasecki will make her debut over the marathon distance after improving her personal best in the half marathon to 1:11:42 in Usti nad Labem in Czech Republic last September.