In less than a week, New Delhi will become the epicenter of global para-sport. From September 27 to October 5, 2025, the IndianOil World Para Athletics Championships will unfold at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium a landmark first not only for India but also for South Asia.
With more than 2,200 athletes and support staff from 104 nations competing across 186 medal events, this championship is set to be the largest para-sporting event ever hosted in India. For a nation that once struggled for recognition in para-athletics, this championship represents both a celebration of past achievements and a powerful statement of future intent.
Hosting the World Para Athletics Championships is no ordinary feat. India’s selection as host reflects a profound transformation from an inconsistent participant in global para-sport to a serious contender and strategic partner. The event carries the theme of “hospitality for champions, pride for India,” with Bluspring overseeing hospitality to ensure the event marries operational excellence with India’s famed warmth. Symbolism is at the heart of the championships. The mascot, Viraaj, a spirited young elephant with a blade prosthesis, and the anthem, “Udaan Bhar”, embody resilience, optimism, and hope.
Even the medals, inscribed in Braille, highlight the inclusivity that lies at the core of this championship.
From Struggles to a Surge
India’s para-sporting journey began at the 1968 Paralympics, and the country’s first breakthrough came in 1972, when swimmer Murlikant Petkar claimed gold. But progress was slow after two decades of sporadic participation and little institutional support, India waited until 2004 Athens to secure its next big moment: Devendra Jhajharia’s gold in the F46 javelin throw.
The true turning point came in the last decade.
- Rio 2016 brought four medals, including two gold.
- Tokyo 2020 delivered 19 medals.
- Paris 2024 shattered records with 29 medals, including seven gold.
This surge was not accidental it was powered by increased investment, structured policies, and inspirational athletes who turned individual triumphs into national movements.
No figure mirrors India’s para-athletics journey better than Devendra Jhajharia. From a village boy who lost his arm in a childhood accident to becoming a three-time Paralympic medallist, Jhajharia’s story is one of resilience. His gold medals in 2004 and 2016, followed by silver in 2020, symbolized India’s emergence as a force in para-athletics. Today, as President of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), Jhajharia is steering the movement from the front. His vision is clear: India should aim for 20+ medals on home soil in 2025, consolidating its new status as a global power in para-sport.
India’s Strongest-Ever Contingent
The 2025 squad is India’s largest-ever at a World Championships a 73-member team blending established champions and promising newcomers.
Key names include:
- Sumit Antil – two-time Paralympic champion and world record holder in javelin.
- Mahendra Gurjar – world record holder in F42 javelin.
- Ekta Bhyan – defending world champion in F51 club throw.
- Praveen Kumar and Nishad Kumar – high jump medallists with a proven global track record.
- Preeti Pal – sprint medallist aiming to build on her Paralympic success.
Remarkably, 35 athletes are debuting at this level, signaling the depth of India’s pipeline. The spread of athletes across multiple states underscores how para-sport has grown beyond traditional hubs, into a truly national movement.
The championships are not only about medals but also about changing perceptions. India has invested heavily in ensuring accessibility:
A new Mondo track, identical to that used at Paris 2024. Accessible transport, including hydraulic vans and low-floor buses. 400 modified hotel rooms and barrier-free facilities across venues. Medals with Braille inscriptions to symbolize inclusivity.
As PCI Chief Patron Vanathi Srinivasan noted, the championships send a message that para-athletes are not just competing they are shaping history.
India’s para-athletics story is one of delayed recognition but exponential growth. From Murlikant Petkar’s lonely gold in 1972 to the record-breaking success of 2024, the trajectory has been remarkable. Hosting the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships is more than a sporting milestone it is a cultural and social statement that India is embracing inclusivity as part of its sporting DNA. On the track and in the field, records will fall. But perhaps the greater victory will be in the stands and in the homes of millions watching, as para-athletes inspire a new generation to dream without limits.
The championships in New Delhi will not just crown winners. They will cement India’s place in the global para-sport movement and leave behind a legacy of inclusivity, pride, and hope.
