The 2025 World Para Athletics Championships kicked off with a bang in New Delhi on Saturday, as athletes shattered world records and set new championship marks right from the start. At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, China surged to the top of the medals table with four wins—two golds and two silvers—while host nation India celebrated three medals, including a standout gold.
Eleven thrilling finals unfolded on day one, putting 33 athletes on the podium. China’s dominance shone through, but India’s Shailesh Kumar stole the spotlight in the men’s high jump T63, leaping to a personal best of 1.91 meters for gold. American Ezra Frech took silver, and fellow Indian Varun Singh Bhati grabbed bronze with a solid 1.85-meter jump.
In the men’s long jump T11 final, China’s Di Dongdong rewrote the record books, smashing his own world record from the Paris Paralympics. He soared to 6.92 meters on his fourth attempt, beating his previous mark of 6.85 meters and electrifying the crowd at the New Delhi venue.
India’s Deepthi Jeevanji delivered a strong silver in the women’s 400m T20, clocking a impressive time behind Turkey’s Aysel Onder. Onder blazed to gold and a new world record of 54.51 seconds, with Ukraine’s Julian Shuliar earning bronze in 56.29 seconds—her season’s best.
The men’s 100m T38 turned into a speed showdown, where USA’s Ryan Medrano set a fresh championship record at 10.83 seconds. He topped the old mark of 10.93 seconds, set by Australia’s Evan O’Hanlon back in 2013 at Lyon.
Brazil’s Ricardo Gomes de Mendonca also made waves in the men’s 100m T37, hitting a championship record of 11.25 seconds to qualify for Sunday’s final. India’s Rakeshbhai Bhatt (11.62 seconds) and Shreyansh Trivedi (11.94 seconds) punched their tickets too, keeping the home hopes alive.
Norway’s Salum Ageze Kashafali matched his own world record of 10.43 seconds in the men’s 100m T12 semifinal, powering into the final. Japan’s Ryutaro Kumo equaled the Asian record and advanced alongside him.
World record holder Jaydin Blackwell from the USA impressed in qualifying for the men’s 100m final with a sharp 10.92 seconds.
In field events, Neutral Para Athlete Albert Khinchagov dominated the men’s shot put F37, throwing 16.55 meters for gold and a new championship record. Fellow NPA Aleksandr Belobokov snagged silver with a season-best 16.16 meters, and Tolibboy Yuldashev took bronze.
The men’s 100m T47 final delivered a nail-biter, with Brazil’s Petrucio Ferreira edging out gold in 10.66 seconds. China’s Shi Kangjun followed closely for silver with a personal best of 10.68 seconds, and Morocco’s Aymane Al Haddaoui rounded out the podium in 10.70 seconds for bronze.
As the championships continue in New Delhi, fans can expect more record-breaking action from these para athletics stars.
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