India, March 25 -- Even before the first edition of the National Indoor Athletics Championships got underway at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, the venue gained global spotlight for bagging the hosting rights to the 2028 World Indoor Championships. For athletes participating in the country's first domestic indoor meet on Tuesday, it was a different feeling and atmosphere.

An indoor track is 200m long, featuring sharper bends and banked curves, where the outer edge is raised to help runners maintain speed and stability while navigating tight turns. The fully covered stadium creates a controlled environment, with no wind playing a role. Fans are much closer to the action, cheering for athletes compared to a 400m track. Indian athletes are ...