India has reportedly expressed its interest in hosting the 2038 Asian Games, marking another step in its aggressive drive to position itself as a global hub for multi-sport events.
According to a PTI report, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) submitted the proposal to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which discussed the development during an executive board meeting in Sanya on April 21 on the sidelines of the Asian Beach Games.
IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer confirmed the move while stressing that the process is still at a preliminary stage. “We submitted the EOI and it was discussed by the OCA in its executive council meeting,” he said, adding that further instructions from the continental body were awaited.
Ahmedabad tipped as a strong contender
While no official host city has been named, Ahmedabad is expected to be a strong contender. The city has already been confirmed to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games after India’s bid was approved by delegates of 74 Commonwealth nations and territories at the General Assembly in Glasgow.
The event will be India’s first major global multi-sport hosting event since the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Ahmedabad also anchors India’s ambitious bid to host the 2036 Olympic Gamesemphasizing a clear strategy of bringing together major sporting events and building long-term infrastructure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently reiterated the government’s intention to host the Olympics, saying that India was preparing “in full force” for a bid in 2036. In a speech at the Senior National Volleyball Championship in January this year, he emphasized that hosting such events would provide greater opportunities for Indian athletes.
He also highlighted initiatives such as the Khelo India program, which has helped young athletes reach the national stage, and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which focuses on developing elite athletes through funding and international exposure.
Competition is growing as the decision-making timeline emerges
India is likely to face competition from many countries. South Korea has shown interest as early as 2021 with a joint bid for Gwangju and Daegu, while Mongolia has reportedly also shown its intention, although a formal submission is pending.
The OCA is expected to finalize the host city for the 2038 Asian Games around 2028. Meanwhile, the upcoming editions have already been awarded — Riyadh will host in 2030, Doha in 2034 and Aichi-Nagoya in 2026.
India last hosted the Asian Games in 1982 in New Delhi, which also hosted the inaugural edition in 1951. The Games have grown in scale since then and now feature over 10,000 athletes from 45 countries.
The last edition in Hangzhou in 2023 saw more than 11,000 athletes competing in 40 sports. India’s 2038 bid, along with its confirmed and future hosting plans, signals a wider ambition – not just to host global events, but to become a regular destination on the international sporting calendar.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
24 Apr 2026 19:28 IST
