Kazakhstan is set to host the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships from tomorrow ©Getty Images

The Asian Indoor Athletics Championships are set to return after a five-year hiatus caused by COVID-19, with Kazakhstan's capital Astana set to host the event over the next three days.

Hangzhou, the host for the postponed Asian Games, was set to hold the Championships in 2020, but this was cancelled. 

Astana's hosting of the competition is being pushed back a year due to the pandemic.

Kazakhstan headed into its home Championships having finished top of the medal table in 2018, but competition is expected to come from the likes of Japan, China, Iran, Qatar and India.

Defending Asian Games champion and 2019 Asian outdoor shot put gold medallist Tajinderpal Singh Toor heads the Indian team selected.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor leads the Indian team ©Getty Images
Tajinderpal Singh Toor leads the Indian team ©Getty Images

Sprinter Amlan Borgohain, who holds the Indian record in the men's 100 metres and 200m, is set to run in the 60m too.

President of the Asian Athletics Association Dahlan al-Hamad, President of the Kazakhstan Athletics Federation Danial Akhmetov and members of the Council of the Asian Athletics Association are expected to be there for the opening of the competition.

Approximately 500 athletes from 31 countries are expected to compete.