New Delhi, 09 July (H.S.): India is rapidly emerging as a preferred destination for major international sporting events as it accelerates preparations for its bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and strengthens its campaign to stage the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Between January 2025 and June 2026, India successfully hosted 36 international sporting competitions across more than 15 cities. These events not only showcased the country's world-class sports infrastructure but also demonstrated its growing organisational capability to host major Olympic and non-Olympic competitions.

The tournaments included World Championships, Asian Championships, World Cups, international ranking events, and continental qualifiers across a wide range of disciplines, including athletics, hockey, badminton, shooting, boxing, table tennis, football, aquatics, para sports, chess, cycling, fencing, volleyball, rugby, and surfing. Several of these events were hosted in India for the first time, while Indian athletes delivered numerous historic and record-breaking performances on home soil.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, in an official statement, said, Hosting international sporting events has become a vital pillar of India's sports ecosystem. It not only enhances the country's global reputation but also provides Indian athletes with opportunities to compete at the highest level on home soil. It significantly reduces the cost of overseas participation, strengthens the technical expertise of officials and volunteers, and contributes to the long-term development of sports infrastructure and event management capabilities across multiple cities.

He further said, As India prepares its bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic Games, the experience gained from organising international competitions across 15 cities will further strengthen our capabilities.

India is scheduled to host 11 more international sporting events between July and December 2026. These include the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, the World Snooker Championship, the Para Archery Asia Cup, World Surf League competitions, the Asian Junior Chess Championship, and international tournaments in badminton, football, and rugby.

India has also secured the hosting rights for 19 major international sporting events scheduled for 2027 and 2028. These include the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2028 in Bhubaneswar, the ISSF World Cup, the Asian Shooting Championships, the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, the home leg of the FIH Pro League, international badminton tournaments, World Surf League events, as well as international competitions in table tennis and para athletics.

In addition, several National Sports Federations are actively bidding to host more Asian and world-level championships in the coming years.

Cities such as New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Goa, Guwahati, Rajgir, Patna, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, and Mahabalipuram are steadily establishing themselves as prominent international sporting destinations.

With more than 65 international sporting events confirmed between 2025 and 2028, India is reinforcing its readiness to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The country's expanding portfolio of global sporting events reflects its growing capability, long-term vision, and determination to emerge as a leading global sporting powerhouse.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar