In New Delhi, Indian para‑athlete Ekta Bhyan earned a silver medal in the club‑throw event at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, but she said she wasn’t fully satisfied with her result.
Ekta threw a season‑best of 19.80 m to finish second in the women’s club‑throw F51 final. She tried her hardest, avoiding any fouls, and saved her best effort for the last throw. “It was close to my best, but the competition was tougher and the heat was brutal,” she told . “I hoped to hit 21.66 m, my personal best, but I’m proud to have earned a medal.”
The Championships, held in New Delhi, marked India’s best‑ever performance on the world stage. The country finished 10th overall with 22 medals – six gold, nine silver and seven bronze – a significant improvement from previous editions.
Ekta praised the event’s organization and India’s growing support for para sports. “It’s an honour to host such a high‑profile competition. The Sports Authority of India and the Paralympic Committee set up perfect facilities, from accessible stadiums to convenient transport and lodging,” she explained. “Seeing this level of support makes us all proud.”
She added that the home crowd’s cheers in Hindi gave her extra motivation, turning the pressure into a drive that helped her secure the silver.
Looking ahead, Ekta is already focused on the 2036 Olympic bid that India has submitted to the International Olympic Committee. “We need to keep upgrading public infrastructure—transport, buildings and public spaces—to meet Paralympic standards,” she said. “The World Parathletics event showed us the possibility; now we must expand accessibility across the country.”
After the World Championships, Ekta is set to compete in the upcoming Asian Para Games in 2026 and will head to Los Angeles for the 2028 Paralympics. She’s excited that the club throw will return to the Olympic program in 2028—a sport she missed in Paris last year—and she hopes to add a Paralympic medal to her accolades.
Ekta Bhyan’s performance and India’s overall medal haul underscore the growing strength of para athletics in India and signal what the country could achieve as it targets the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Source: aninews
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
