India’s star para athlete Ekta Bhyan is gearing up for an exciting challenge. She’s the defending champion in the women’s F51 club throw and dreams of grabbing her third straight medal at the World Para Athletics Championships. This time, it’s happening right here on home soil in New Delhi.
Last year in Kobe, Ekta smashed a season’s best of 20.12 meters to win gold in the women’s F51 club throw. Before that, she picked up bronze at the 2023 Worlds in Paris. Talking to on Friday, Ekta shared her big plans. “In the last World Championship, I threw over 20 meters. After that, I competed in about eight events and improved my performance. I’m hopeful I can beat my personal best this time—that’s my main goal right now.”
She’s not stopping there. “Of course, I’m aiming for a medal too. I’ve won medals in the last two World Para Athletics Championships, so I want to keep that streak going,” she added with confidence.
As the defending champion, Ekta feels the pressure but stays positive. “There’s definitely some expectation on me. I push myself to do better than before. I hope to repeat or even top my past throws. It’s a bit tense, but I’m ready to perform and keep improving.”
Ekta isn’t just an athlete—she’s a Haryana Civil Services officer making waves in para sports. She grabbed gold at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta and bronze at the 2022 edition in Hangzhou. Her journey inspires many. Back in 2003, a tragic accident caused a spinal cord injury, leaving her in a wheelchair. But Ekta turned that setback into strength. Today, she’s a world champion, national record holder, and a strong advocate for accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
She shines in multiple events, including discus throw, club throw, and even para-table tennis. Her medal collection boasts two from World Para Athletics Championships, two from Asian Para Games, and 12 national titles in discus and club throw.
The World Para Athletics Championships kick off on September 27 at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and run until October 5. This is India’s first time hosting the event, and it’s the biggest para sports competition the country has ever seen. Over a thousand athletes from around the world will compete, putting India in the global spotlight.
Ekta believes this will transform para sports in India. “Hosting the World Para Athletics Championships is a huge boost for the para movement and Paralympic efforts. It’s more than just sports—it’s about advancing rights for persons with disabilities. It pushes for better infrastructure and accessibility everywhere in the country.”
She added, “This brings India onto the world stage. I’m thrilled we’re organizing major events like this. Just in March, we hosted the India Grand Prix, where many new para athletes got classified. It sets a new standard—not only for sporting excellence but also for including persons with disabilities in mainstream life.”
With Ekta leading the charge, India’s para athletes are set to shine and inspire a nation.
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