The 2025 World Para Athletics Championship in New Delhi ended with a record-breaking performance for India. Despite issues like low attendance and stray dogs on the field making headlines, the real story was India’s para-athletes who made the nation proud. The Indian team of 73 athletes delivered their best-ever performance at a World Para Athletics Championship, winning a total of 22 medals — 6 gold, 9 silver, and 7 bronze — finishing 10th in the overall medal tally.
India’s Best-Ever Medal Haul at the World Para Athletics Championship
India’s medal count at the World Para Athletics Championship continues to rise with every edition. In 2019, India won nine medals, followed by 10 in 2023 and 17 in 2024 at Kobe, Japan. The 2025 edition in New Delhi saw India achieving its highest-ever total of 22 medals. This shows how far the country has come in para-athletics.
The Indian team’s performance matched the expectations placed upon them, with several personal and continental records being broken. Athletes achieved three World Para Athletics Championship records and seven Asian records, along with nearly 30 personal bests.
Even more impressively, the six gold medals in 2025 equal India’s tally from Kobe, but this time, the competition field was stronger. The achievement also comes close to India’s incredible 29-medal performance at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, where 17 of those medals came from para-athletics.
The results show not just the rise of para-sports in India but also how the nation’s athletes are now serious global contenders at every World Para Athletics Championship.
Star Performers at the World Para Athletics Championship
India’s performance at the World Para Athletics Championship was highlighted by several repeat medal winners who have consistently excelled in recent global events. Among them, javelin thrower Sumit Antil stood out. He claimed his third consecutive world title in the men’s javelin F64 category. Even while not at his absolute best, he broke his own World Para Athletics Championship record with a throw of 71.37m. His dominance in para-javelin makes him India’s most successful athlete in the tournament’s history.
Simran Sharma also impressed, winning two medals in the T12 category for visually impaired athletes. She bagged gold in the women’s 100m T12 and silver in the 200m T12. Her improvement from previous editions shows the steady progress of Indian athletes at the World Para Athletics Championship.
High jumper Nishad Kumar converted his previous silver medal into gold in the men’s high jump T47, while Deepthi Jeevanji and Ekta Bhyan earned silver medals after winning gold in previous editions. Both athletes proved their consistency on the big stage.
Another standout was Shailesh Kumar, who won India’s first gold medal of the competition by defeating Paralympic champion Ezra Frech in the men’s high jump T63. His victory set the tone for India’s campaign at the World Para Athletics Championship.
Meanwhile, Preeti Pal continued her strong form, winning silver and bronze in the T35 sprint events, while Yogesh Kathuniya secured his third consecutive silver medal in discus throw F56. Navdeep, Dharambir, and Sundar Singh Gurjar also added silver medals to India’s tally, ensuring the country’s dominance across multiple field events.
Javelin Glory and India’s Rising Para-Athletic Future
A striking pattern at the World Para Athletics Championship was India’s dominance in javelin events. Indian throwers won six medals, including two double podium finishes. In the F44 category, Sandip Sanjay Sargar and Sandeep claimed gold and silver, while in the F46 category, Rinku Hooda and Sundar Singh Gurjar repeated the feat with another gold-silver finish. This made the javelin throw India’s strongest discipline at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championship.
Interestingly, the head of the Paralympic Committee of India, Devendra Jhajharia, is himself a javelin legend and two-time Paralympic gold medalist. His influence and leadership have clearly helped inspire a new generation of throwers to excel at the World Para Athletics Championship level.
India’s success in javelin and other field events demonstrates the growing strength and depth of its para-athletic system. The consistent performances of athletes across events and classifications reflect improved training, facilities, and coaching.
The World Para Athletics Championship also highlighted the determination and resilience of India’s athletes. Many of them overcame personal and physical challenges to reach the world stage, setting an inspiring example for future generations. The high number of personal bests and records achieved underlines their commitment and preparation.
While administrative issues like empty stadiums or logistical lapses made news, they could not overshadow the athletes’ performances. Their record haul at the World Para Athletics Championship deserves full recognition.
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