The 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi produced another memorable day for Indian para-athletes, as the nation celebrated a historic gold medal from high jumper Shailesh Kumar and a hard-fought silver from defending champion Deepthi Jeevanji.
With these podium finishes, India continued to strengthen its medal tally and assert its growing presence on the global para-athletics stage. Defending champion Deepthi Jeevanji showcased her trademark grit and consistency in the women’s 400m T20 final, claiming the silver medal with a season-best timing of 55.16 seconds. The 20-year-old Indian sprinter, who had set the world record during her victorious campaign at the 2023 World Championships, entered the New Delhi meet as one of the favourites.
However, on the day, Turkey’s Aysel Onder was in a league of her own. The reigning Paralympic champion powered through the race to clock 54.51 seconds, breaking her own world record and taking home the gold medal. Ukraine’s Yuliia Shuliar secured the bronze with a season-best of 56.29 seconds.
Deepthi’s silver added to India’s growing medal count and reaffirmed her status as one of the most consistent T20 athletes in the world. Earlier in the competition, she had signaled her form by winning her 100m T20 heat in a season-best 58.35 seconds, comfortably booking a place in the final. Though she could not reclaim the world title this time, her season-best effort reflects her steady progression as she prepares for bigger challenges, including the upcoming Paralympic cycle.
Shailesh Kumar Creates History with High Jump Gold
If Deepthi’s silver was a story of resilience, the day’s biggest headline belonged to Shailesh Kumar, who delivered India’s first gold medal of the 2025 Championships with a stunning performance in the Men’s High Jump T42/64 category. The 28-year-old cleared 1.91 meters, setting a new championship record and electrifying the home crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Shailesh’s victory was all the more special as it came in front of a passionate home audience. He outperformed USA’s Ezra Frech, who settled for silver with a best effort of 1.85 meters, while fellow Indian Varun Singh Bhati matched Frech’s mark but finished with the bronze medal on countback. India’s Rahul narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth despite a commendable effort.
The gold medal marked a significant milestone for Indian para-athletics, demonstrating the country’s depth of talent in field events. Shailesh’s clearance not only set a championship record but also underscored his status as one of the premier high jumpers in the T42/64 category. His success follows years of steady improvement and reflects the growing support system for para-athletes in India.
Other Indian Performances
While Deepthi and Shailesh grabbed the spotlight, several other Indian athletes produced noteworthy performances.
- Varun Singh Bhati, a Paralympic bronze medallist, added another world championship medal to his collection with his 1.85m jump, earning bronze behind Shailesh and Frech.
- In the Women’s Javelin Throw F46, Bhavanaben Chaudhary finished eighth with a best throw of 35.34 meters. Despite registering only two valid attempts, her effort showcased competitive spirit in a strong field.
- Kanchan Lakhani recorded a best throw of 9.68 meters to finish fifth in the Women’s Discus Throw F53 final, narrowly missing a podium spot.
- In the Men’s Shot Put F37 final, Manu threw 13.43 meters, which was not enough to break into the top eight, but his participation added valuable experience at the highest level.
- On the track, Shreyansh Trivedi and Rakeshbhai Bhatt advanced to the Men’s T37 100m final, both setting personal bests in their heats. Shreyansh clocked 11.94 seconds to finish second in Heat 3 for an automatic qualification, while Rakeshbhai ran 11.62 seconds, advancing as the second fastest non-automatic qualifier. Their progress sets up an exciting sprint final for India in the coming days.
A Growing Medal Tally
With Shailesh Kumar’s gold, Deepthi Jeevanji’s silver, and Varun Singh Bhati’s bronze, India’s medal count at the championships rose to three, reinforcing the country’s strong start to the competition. The championships, held in New Delhi, have provided Indian athletes with the rare advantage of competing on home soil, and the results so far suggest they are making the most of the opportunity.
For Deepthi, the silver is a reminder of the intense competition in her category and a valuable learning experience ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. For Shailesh, the gold represents the culmination of years of hard work and positions him as a key figure in India’s para-athletics program.
The 2025 World Para Athletics Championships are proving to be a showcase of India’s rising strength in para-sports. The combination of experienced campaigners like Deepthi and Varun with emerging talents like Shailesh, Shreyansh, and Rakeshbhai highlights the depth of the country’s talent pool. With improved infrastructure, better coaching, and increased support from both government and private bodies, Indian para-athletes are no longer just participants—they are genuine medal contenders on the world stage. As the championships progress, all eyes will be on the remaining events, where India will look to add to its medal tally.
The performances in New Delhi have already set a new benchmark for Indian para-athletics, inspiring the next generation of athletes to dream bigger and aim higher.
