India plans bid to host 2038 Asian Games in Ahmedabad

NEW DELHI: India will seek to host the 2038 Asian Games in Ahmedabad, according to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P. T. Usha, as the country continues its push to bring major multi-sport events to the western city.

Speaking to Reuters by telephone from China on Saturday, Usha said the IOA had already formally conveyed its interest to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

She said, “Indian Olympic Association has already sent an expression of interest to OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) for organising the 2038 Asian Games in Ahmedabad.”

Usha also said she had held meetings with OCA officials during her visit and received a positive response regarding India’s proposal. “I met the OCA president and other functionaries here and they are all happy and want to support us,” she told Reuters.

The former Olympian is currently in China to attend the Asian Beach Games in Sanya. She said the matter had also come up during an OCA executive committee meeting.

According to Usha, “They had an EC (executive committee) meeting here where they discussed it. They will be sending an evaluation committee to India very soon.”

Ahmedabad central to India’s multi-sport ambitions

The move is part of a broader effort by India to stage top-level international sporting events. The country is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and is also bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games in the same city.

India has hosted the Asian Games twice before. The first edition of the event was held in New Delhi in 1951, and the country hosted the Games again in the capital in 1982.

India also staged the 2010 Commonwealth Games. That event, however, was overshadowed by mismanagement and allegations of corruption.

Upcoming Asian Games hosts

The Asian Games schedule for the coming editions has already been decided. Nagoya in Japan will host this year’s Asian Games, while Doha has been awarded the 2030 edition and Riyadh the 2034 Games.

India’s latest expression of interest for the 2038 event adds to its ongoing attempts to position Ahmedabad as a venue for major international competitions in the years ahead.