India’s para-athletes made history at the twelfth World Para Athletics Championships, held in Delhi from September 27 to October 5, 2025. The event saw over 1,000 athletes from more than 100 countries competing in 186 medal events, including 101 for men, 84 for women, and one mixed event. The championships included track races, long-distance events, relays, jumps, throws, and other athletic competitions.
This was the first time India hosted the World Para Athletics Championships. Previously, Asia had hosted it only three times: Doha (2015), Dubai (2019), and Kobe (2024). India’s successful hosting not only highlighted its organizational abilities but also promoted inclusion and accessibility for athletes with disabilities.
The 73-member Indian contingent, comprising 54 men and 19 women, delivered its best-ever performance. India won a total of 22 medals — six gold, nine silver, and seven bronze — surpassing the previous record of 17 medals in Kobe 2024. This performance placed India fifth in total medals behind China, Brazil, the USA, and the UK, and tenth overall based on gold medals.
Indian athletes broke personal bests, set new records, and won multiple medals across events. Shailesh Kumar won the first gold in the men’s high jump T63 class with an Asian record. Deepthi Jeevanji claimed silver in the women’s 400m T20. Rinku Hooda and Sundar Singh Gurjar won gold and silver in the men’s javelin F46 class. Sumit Antil, two-time Paralympic javelin champion, clinched his third world championship gold. Simran Sharma, Sandeep, Preeti, and Navdeep also contributed to India’s medal tally with remarkable performances in sprinting, jumping, and javelin throw events.
This success reflects a significant rise in India’s para-athletics achievements over the past decade. At Doha 2015, India won only two medals. By Dubai 2019, the tally rose to nine, and in Kobe 2024, India secured 17 medals. The leap to 22 medals in Delhi 2025 shows consistent growth and better training infrastructure.
Following Delhi’s success, India is now aiming for an even bigger target at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. Officials, coaches, and the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) are preparing for “Mission 50” — a goal to win 50 medals. This is considered achievable, given the rapid progress in para-athletics.
The Delhi championships highlighted India’s potential to compete at the highest level. With only 73 athletes participating out of 186 medal events, the 22-medal haul represents a 30% success rate. This indicates strong talent that, with proper support and expansion of training programs, can achieve even greater results.
India’s rise in para-sports began gaining attention at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where four medals were won — more than India’s Olympic team that year. Devendra Jhajharia, India’s first para-athlete to win two Paralympic golds and now PCI President, predicted 25 medals at the 2024 Paralympics. Indian athletes exceeded this, winning a record 29 medals, inspiring confidence for future competitions.
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The World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi also gave an opportunity to discover new talent from remote regions of India. Athletes supported by the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) performed exceptionally, showing that investment in training, coaching, and facilities can yield world-class results. The aim is to identify more athletes, provide them proper coaching, and prepare them for global events like the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.
In comparison, India’s performance at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo was modest. Out of 19 athletes competing in 15 medal events, India won only three medals in its history at these championships. Neeraj Chopra and Sachin Yadav performed well, while Sarvesh Koshare made history as the first Indian high jumper to reach a World Athletics Championship final. The gap between able-bodied and para-athletes’ achievements shows the immense potential in India’s para-sports sector.
The Delhi championships also emphasized the importance of inclusion, accessibility, and promoting para-sports on a global stage. Athletes overcame disabilities and personal challenges, achieving extraordinary results. Their determination demonstrates India’s growing strength in para-athletics and sets a model for future generations.
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