“Sports have the power to unite and inspire beyond boundaries,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi once remarked. That sentiment comes alive as India hosts the 12th World Para Athletics Championships 2025 in New Delhi. From September 27 to October 5, the capital city transforms into the global hub of para-sport, marking the first time the prestigious event is being staged in India. More than 1,000 athletes from over 100 nations are converging at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to compete in 186 medal events, making this one of the largest para-sport gatherings ever held on Indian soil.
For India, this is more than just a sporting event; it is a moment of pride, inclusion, and global recognition. The stadium has been upgraded with a new MONDO track and fully accessible facilities, reflecting India’s commitment to creating athlete-friendly infrastructure. The championships, second in scale only to the Paralympic Games, are expected to deliver not only medal-winning performances but also deepen awareness of para-sports in everyday public conversations.
India’s rise in para-athletics over the last decade has been nothing short of extraordinary. From just two silver medals at Doha 2015 to nine medals at Dubai 2019, the nation climbed to 17 medals, including six gold, at Kobe 2024. The Paris 2024 Paralympics further cemented this momentum, with India winning 84 medals overall, 17 of them in para-athletics. This remarkable trajectory highlights both the resilience of athletes and the growing institutional support extended by the Paralympic Committee of India. More than 70 athletes are representing the tricolor in Delhi this year, carrying with them the hopes of a record performance before a home crowd.
Among the top Indian contenders, names like Sumit in javelin, Preeti Pal in sprints, Praveen Kumar in high jump, Dharambir in club throw, and Navdeep in javelin stand out. Their achievements on international stages have already inspired a generation, and Delhi 2025 offers them a unique chance to shine before fans in their own country. Beyond chasing medals, their stories embody the values of determination, discipline, and hope that para-sport symbolizes.
The history of para-athletics underscores its evolution as one of the most inclusive and dynamic sporting movements. What began in the early 1950s with injured war veterans at Stoke Mandeville grew into a global platform for athletes with diverse disabilities. From its formal debut at the 1960 Paralympics with 31 athletes across 25 events, para-athletics has expanded to include visually impaired, amputee, and cerebral palsy athletes, among others. Technological innovations like specialized racing wheelchairs and classification systems have further professionalized the sport, with the International Paralympic Committee now overseeing its global competitions.
In New Delhi, nine days of action-packed sessions are underway, featuring morning and evening fixtures filled with high-stakes finals. A total of 101 medal events for men, 84 for women, and one mixed event ensure a broad representation of talent. From sprints to marathons, from long jumps to javelin throws, the championship is set to be a nonstop celebration of para-sport excellence.
Ultimately, the World Para Athletics Championships 2025 is not just about victories or records. It is about the triumph of willpower, the pride of a nation, and the shaping of a more inclusive future. As the athletes take their marks and fans fill the stands, India’s hosting of this championship signals a new era where sports serve as a powerful bridge between ability and aspiration. The legacy of Delhi 2025 will endure in medals, in memories, and in the hope it inspires across generations.