22nd Asian Athletics Championship

With just 90 days given to prepare, the Government of Odisha and the Athletics Federation of India pulled off an incredible story by putting together the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship in record time. In a glittering curtain raiser a special film highlighting the planning, monitoring and supervision of the Asian Athletics Championship was showcased. The 22nd Asian Athletics Championship is Asia’s biggest athletics event, being hosted by Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha from July 6-9. This is the third time the premier track and field event of the continent is being held in India after New Delhi (1989) and Pune (2013).Legendary Olympians Anju Bobby George, PT Usha and Shiny Wilson were also present at the press conference along with AFI President Mr AdilleSumariwalla, celebrating the occasion of Bhubaneswar’s makeover to gear up for the premier track and field competition of the continent, which runs from July 5-9, 2017.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Chandra Sarathi Behera, Honourable Minister – Sports and Youth Services – Government of Odisha, said: “Odisha has been at the forefront of major development in all sectors, and sports has been a major contributing factor towards the development of the state. With world-class events coming to Odisha, the state is quickly becoming one of the emerging hubs of sports in the country. The Asian Athletics Championships will also give a chance to the best Odia athletes to perform in front of their home crowd.” Mr AdilleSumariwalla, President, Athletics Federation of India, said: “The preparations for the Asian Athletics Championships have been top class right from the day Odisha decided to host the event. The meticulous and methodical approach taken by the Government of Odisha in the execution of the massive task on hand meant that it went beyond the call of duty to fulfill every requirement and set the stage for hosting the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships.