Latif Romly Breaks His Seven Year Old World Record At New Delhi 2025
The second day of the IndianOil 2025 World Para Athletics Championships saw the F20 Men’s Long Jump light up the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with world-class performances and record-breaking feats.
The event featured a stellar lineup — World Record holder and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medalist Latif Romly (MAS), Paralympic champion Matvei Iakushev (NPA), Paris 2024 bronze medalist Jhon Sebastian Obando Asprilla (COL), and Virtus ambassador Lenine Cunha (POR) — all battling for a place on the podium.
From the very first attempt, Malaysian star Latif Romly stamped his authority. Soaring to 7.61m, he shattered the championship record previously held by Ranki Oberoi from 2019. Romly then went one step further, rewriting history by breaking his own seven-year-old World Record (7.64m) with a massive 7.67m jump. The superstar is expecting a baby soon and dedicated his medal to his wife and their soon-to-arrive child.
Thrilled by his performance, Romly told Virtus,
“I’m very satisfied with my performance today because I was able to break two records (Championship and World record) here in New Delhi. I would like to dedicate this medal to my wife and my children. Balancing training and giving time to my wife and baby, which is coming soon, both are important, and the key is discipline.”
Behind him, Saudi Arabia’s Hassan Dawshi produced a strong 7.20m leap to secure second place, while Roberto Carlos Chala of Colombia clinched his first-ever World Championship medal, silver, with a personal best of 7.36m. His third attempt sealed the bronze, marking a career milestone. Hassan won silver at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Matvei Iakushev (NPA), renowned for his unpredictable and explosive style, secured the bronze medal after a dramatic turnaround. Failing to clear his first two attempts, he kept the crowd on edge before making a strong comeback in his third jump with 6.97m. He then pushed further in his fourth attempt, registering a season’s best of 7.22m — enough to climb the rankings and claim the bronze.
Colombian jumper Jhon Sebastian Obando Asprilla reached 6.81m on his first attempt, ranking himself in the top three early in the contest before eventually finishing outside the medals.
Veteran athlete Lenine Cunha of Portugal, a proud Virtus ambassador, finished eighth but left the field with immense pride. At 42 years old, he shared,
“I am 42 years old now and finished 8th out of 15 best athletes. This is a gold medal for me. I hope Virtus friends can see me and be inspired because it’s never too late to try. I missed the Paralympic Games qualification time last year, but now I am here ranking 8th, so never give up.”
Reflecting on the competition, Cunha praised the rising talents:
“The competition is very strong. There are so many new athletes, from South Korea, from the Philippines, and there is a new guy from Portugal, too. This is good for both Para Athletics and Virtus.”
The F20 Men’s Long Jump not only crowned a new world record holder but also showcased the depth, spirit, and resilience of para athletics on the grand stage of New Delhi.
Full results can be viewed from here.
