Indian para athlete Dharambir shone brightest at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, grabbing a silver medal in the men’s club throw F51 on Thursday. This event, held at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, highlights the toughest category under impaired muscle power, testing athletes’ strength and skill.
At 36, Dharambir already boasts a gold from the 2024 Paris Paralympics. He nailed his season-best throw of 29.71 meters on his final sixth attempt, securing the podium spot right on home soil. “I’m thrilled with how I performed,” Dharambir said, wrapped in the Indian flag. “Standing on the podium here feels incredible. Gold would’ve been amazing, but I’m still over the moon.”
Dharambir praised the championships for boosting India’s para sports scene. “We’ve pulled off a fantastic event that checks so many boxes for the country,” he added. “It fires us up even more. We’re pushing to host the Paralympic Games someday—this is a smart move by the government and federation. We’ll reap huge rewards from it.”
His coach, Amit Saroha, never doubted a medal would come. The pair trained hard at SAI Sonipat leading up to the meet. Saroha had high hopes for Pranav Soorma too, but despite hitting a personal best of 28.19 meters this season, Soorma ended up fifth. Saroha himself missed out after fracturing a bone just weeks before the championships.
Rain and lightning briefly halted the evening action, making things tricky for Dharambir, who snagged bronze at last year’s Kobe World Para Athletics Championships. The wet conditions messed with his grip on the club. “The rain definitely caused some slips, but I’m happy overall,” he said. “We might’ve taken home two medals if Pranav edged it out, but our competitors stepped up big time.”
Saroha agreed, noting how most throwers peaked early. “Everyone nailed their best distances on the first try,” he explained. “Once the club got soaked, gripping it became a nightmare, dropping scores fast. But we drilled in all weather—sun, rain, you name it—and that prep really paid off.”
India celebrated another strong showing when Atul Kaushik claimed bronze in the men’s discus throw F57. In a nail-biting competition, his 45.61-meter effort on the fifth throw clinched the medal. A Delhi local who trains right at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kaushik called it his biggest stage yet. “I’m buzzing with excitement,” he shared. “Rain threw a curveball for me, but it hit everyone the same way. Just glad to deliver.”
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