2025 World Para Athletics Championships Kicks Off at New Delhi
In a landmark moment for Indian sports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships would reaffirm India’s image as a “sporting and inclusive” nation. The grand opening ceremony took place on 25th September at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Welcoming the 2,200 competitors from more than 100 nations, PM Modi remarked:
“By breaking barriers and setting new benchmarks, para athletes have played a vital role in strengthening India’s identity as a rising sporting hub, motivating millions to embrace sports as a way of life.”
India now joins Qatar (2015), UAE (2019), and Japan (2024) as the fourth Asian nation to host the prestigious event, organised by the Paralympics Committee of India.
Expressing pride in hosting the championship, Smt. Rekha Gupta, Prime Minister of New Delhi said:
“Sport has a great way of connecting people, transcending all barriers of religion, region and nationality. In today’s world, it is all the more important to emphasise this unifying aspect of sport. I am sure the WPAC will have a similar impact on all the participants and spectators.”
Kangana Ranaut (MP), Rashmi Govil (Representative from Indian Oil), Hari Ranjan Rao IAS (Sports Secretary), Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya (Sports Minister), Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Paul Fitzgerald (Head of WPA). Photo Credit: Paralympic Committee of India
The vibrant opening event was attended by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Smt. Raksha Khadse, Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta, MP Smt. Kangana Ranaut, Delhi Education Minister Shri Ashish Sood, and World Para Athletics President Mr Paul Fitzgerald.
WPAC 2025 is the first international event to be staged on the brand-new Mondo track at the Nehru Stadium. The track — identical to the one used at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and designed in shades of blue — was inaugurated by Dr Mandaviya on August 29, National Sports Day. Alongside, a Mondo warm-up track and a multi-speciality gym capable of accommodating 200 athletes at once were also unveiled.
Cultural program showcasing different dance forms of India. Photo Credit: PCI
Dr Mandaviya, who declared the championships open, highlighted India’s largest-ever contingent: “For India, these world para athletics championships are about pride, progress, and purpose. We have assembled our largest-ever para contingent of 74 athletes, a testament to how deeply para-sports have taken root in the country. Champions such as Sumit Antil, Preethi Pal, Deepthi Jeevanji, Dharambir Nain, and Praveen Kumar will compete on home ground.”
The competition begins on September 27, with 186 gold medals at stake. Mr Fitzgerald noted,
“Spectators inside the stadium and a global audience around the world will experience the brilliance of the athletes competing in newly renovated facilities designed to maximise their skill, speed and strength. Yes, world records will be broken. Yes, world champions will be crowned. But not every athlete will achieve their dream of being on the podium with their national anthem playing. There will be many triumphs but also many disappointments. I invite everyone to experience all of the emotions with the athletes.”
The championships also mark India’s growing ambition to host major global sporting events. Dr Mandaviya revealed, “We are deep into planning for the Commonwealth Games 2030, and we have our eyes set on hosting the Olympic Games in 2036 with ambitions that will accelerate infrastructure, opportunity, and the sporting dreams of countless youth. As the Prime Minister has said, ‘Sport not only creates champions; it also promotes peace, progress and wellness.’ That is the guiding light of our sporting journey.”
He further emphasised the broader impact of WPAC and said, “Yet beyond infrastructure or ambition lies a deeper legacy: a transformed mind-set. We will leave behind accessible venues, stronger support systems for para-athletes, and a renewed national conversation around equal opportunity in sport. These are the true outcomes that will endure long after the medals have been awarded.”
India’s para athletes, including Paralympic medallists and world champions, are expected to thrive on home soil. At the Kobe edition in 2024, India delivered its best-ever WPAC performance with 17 medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze), finishing sixth overall. The 2023 Paris championships had already seen a record 10 medals (3 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze), laying the groundwork for this moment.
PM Modi hailed their resilience, “The remarkable performances of para athletes have redefined the meaning of resilience and determination, inspiring both sportspersons and common people across the world. Their achievements have ignited a collective belief that no challenge is impossible to overcome.”
Athletes with an intellectual impairment will be competing in T20 and F20 events: 400m, 1500m, Shot-put, Long jump and in a new track event, T20 800m. Star athletes like Maksym Koval (UKR), Yuliia Shuliar (UKR), Aysel Onder (TUR), Deepthi Jeevanji (IND), Ben Sandilands (GBR), Barbara Bieganowska-Zajac (POL), Abdul Latif Romly (MAL), Karolina Kucharczyk-Urbanska (POL), along with many others, will be making their appearance at New Delhi 2025.
More information can be found on the event website.
