India’s para athletes are gearing up for an exciting milestone at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. From September 27 to October 5, 35 talented Indian para athletes will make their debut at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. This event promises to showcase the incredible spirit of Indian para sports on a global stage.
One standout is Mahendra Gurjar, who recently smashed a world record in the men’s F42 javelin throw with an impressive 61.17 meters at the Nottwil World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Switzerland. Right now, he’s training hard in Patiala to keep up his momentum for this big debut in the Javelin F44 category. “This isn’t just about winning medals—it’s about proving to the world what Indian para athletes can do,” Mahendra said. “I hope our stories inspire more young people, especially girls, to pursue their sports dreams.”
Joining Mahendra are other promising first-timers like Atul Kaushik in Discus F57, Praveen in Shot Put F46, Haney in Discus F37, Mit Bharatbhai Patel in Long Jump T44, Manjeet in Javelin F13, Vishu in Long Jump T12, Pushpendra Singh in Javelin F44, Ajay Singh in Long Jump T47, Shubham Juyal in Shot Put F57, Birbhadra Singh in Discus F57, Dayawanti in Women’s 400m T20, Amisha Rawat in Women’s Shot Put F46, Anandhi Kulanthaisamy in Club Throw F32, and Suchitra Parida in Women’s Javelin F56. These athletes represent the rising talent in Indian para athletics.
Mit Bharatbhai Patel, who’s set to jump in the men’s long jump T44, couldn’t hide his excitement. “Competing at this level with a home crowd cheering me on is a dream come true,” he shared. “I’m so thankful for this chance and ready to make India proud at the World Para Athletics Championships.”
Devendra Jhajharia, president of the Paralympic Committee of India, highlighted the significance of this moment. “We’ve never had so many Indian athletes debuting at a single World Championships before. Each one has beaten huge challenges to get here, carrying the dreams of a new generation. We know they’ll motivate countless others in India to pick up sports and aim high.”
The New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships will be India’s largest para sporting event yet. Over 2,200 athletes and support staff from more than 104 countries will compete in 186 medal events, putting the spotlight on para sports excellence right here at home.
