In what was a nine-day nonstop celebration of para-sport excellence, the twelfth edition of the “World Para Athletics Tournament" was held in India’s National Capital Territory, Delhi, from 27 September to 5 October 2025, bringing together more than 1,000 athletes from over 100 nations at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

186 Medal Events

The Championships showcased a mix of track and field events featuring a total of 186 medal events, including 101 for men, 84 for women, and one mixed event, covering everything from sprint finishes and endurance races to dramatic jumps and powerful throws.

First Time

Before Delhi, Asia had hosted the World Para Athletics Championships only three times — at Doha 2015 in Qatar, Dubai 2019 in the United Arab Emirates, and Kobe 2024 in Japan — thus making India’s debut as host of the biggest competition for para-athletes in track and field outside of the Paralympic Games. Athletes competed in a wide range of events, including sprints, relays, long-distance races, jumps, throws, and various other athletic disciplines.

Beyond Medals And Records

The New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships featured 15 more medal events than the last edition in Kobe. But beyond medals and records, the event stood as a global symbol of inclusion and accessibility. It also showcased India’s ability to host world-class sporting events successfully.

India At The World Para Athletics

Before the commencement of the Delhi edition, India had won 45 medals — 13 gold, 15 silver, and 17 bronze — across previous World Para Athletics Championships.

I will come later to the stellar performance of Indian athletes in Delhi.

Ascendency

Starting modestly, over the past decade, India has emerged as one of the most powerful success stories in the global rise of para-athletics. While the Indian team won just two silver medals at the Doha 2015 World Championships, the tally rose to nine at the Dubai 2019 edition. And in Kobe 2024, India recorded a historic 17 medals — six gold, five silver, and six bronze.

Better Than The Best

So, how did the 73-member contingent of Indian para-athletes, 54 men and 19 women, perform? In short, the Indian bravehearts, conquering all disabilities, bettered their 2024 Kobe performance by a margin.

Counting The........

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