The Jawahar Lal Nehru (JLN) Stadium in Delhi, one of the country’s most iconic sports venues, is set to be demolished to make way for a modern Sports City. The new complex will include sporting venues for multiple disciplines and residential facilities for athletes, a senior sports ministry official said on Monday, 10th November.
?Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will be dismantled to build new 102-acre sports city. pic.twitter.com/7S1hghMtsG
— Indian Infra Report (@Indianinfoguide) November 10, 2025
The plan is currently at the ideation stage, with the government studying international examples before finalising any proposal. “There is no timeline yet as the project is still in the planning phase. We are assessing successful sports city models like the one in Doha, and once that is complete, we will move forward with detailed planning,” the source said.
Built originally for the 1982 Asian Games, the JLN Stadium underwent a major renovation before the 2010 Commonwealth Games for Rs 961 crore. Recently, just ahead of the World Para Athletics Championships, another Rs 50 crore was spent to upgrade the facilities. The improvements included two new Mondo tracks at the main and practice venues, 10,000 new seats in the lower stands, new accessible lifts, and wheelchair-friendly washrooms.
The stadium, with a seating capacity of around 60,000, has hosted several major sporting events, including the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup. It recently made history by hosting the first-ever World Para Athletics Championships in India.
Currently, the sports complex houses offices of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), and the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), apart from facilities such as an archery academy, badminton courts, and football and athletics tracks.
When asked about the existing offices and facilities, the official said, “All the offices will be relocated, and the main stadium structure will be taken down. We also plan to build residential areas for athletes so that they can stay close to the venue during tournaments.”
The ministry plans to use the 102-acre site more efficiently, as much of it currently remains underused. The model under consideration is similar to the Doha Sports City project built for the 2006 Asian Games. Spread over 618 acres, Doha’s facility has since hosted major events, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and continues to be central to Qatar’s Olympic ambitions.
In another development, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has announced its biggest recruitment drive for coaches since 2017. A total of 320 coaches will be hired across 25 sports disciplines, with half of the positions reserved for women.
Apart from popular sports like hockey, wrestling, boxing, and athletics, the recruitment will also focus on less mainstream sports such as kayaking and canoeing, with the upcoming Asian Games in mind.
The announcement marks an important step in India’s push to improve its sports infrastructure and training ecosystem, as the country aims to prepare stronger teams and host more international sporting events in the coming years.
