The World Para Athletics Championships is being hosted in India for the first time ever, starting from 27 September, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
This 12th edition will see over 2,200 athletes and support staff from more than 104 countries compete across 186 medal events.
With the championships just around the corner, official sources have released the exact schedule, who’s taking part, and how India is preparing to make this truly historic.
This article covers that and more about the history of the event and what sports are being played, along with details on the participating countries, focusing on India’s mighty team and efforts.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 World Para Athletics Championship.
When Is The World Para Athletics Championship 2025? Tournament & Venue Details
The World Para Athletics Championship will run from 27 September to 5 October 2025, following the qualification period and classification rounds, which begin earlier.
The Venue for the tournament is the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium, New Delhi, which was refurbished and equipped to host India’s first outdoor Mondo track built for this event.
The stadium now holds about 60,000 spectators and has hosted major events before. As for the accommodations for the participants, they are being arranged across official hotels near the stadium and training facilities.
The Championship has chosen “Viraaj”, an elephant with a blade prosthetic that symbolizes strength, resilience, and spirit, as their mascot for the season.
Where Can I Watch The World Para Athletics 2025?
Prasar Bharati is the official broadcast partner of the World Para Athletics in India, which will bring live coverage across national channels.
But live International streaming will be available via the official Paralympics YouTube channel. Highlights and daily summaries will also be posted via official para athletics social media platforms.
What Is The World Para Athletics Championship?
The World Para Athletics Championship is the largest wing of the International Paralympic Committee, and is an international sports competition in athletics, made specifically for para-athletes.
In short, it is the Paralympic Games for para-athletes, which are held concurrently with other international Paralympic competitions.
Para Athletic championship is held every two years, and includes athletes with physical, visual, intellectual, or even limb impairments, stretching across many classes and disciplines.
It serves not only as the highest non-Paralympic meet in para-athletics but often as a critical qualifying platform for future events and games.
History Of The World Para Athletics Championship
Para athletics began humbly in 1952, when injured World War II veterans first tried their hand at a javelin event in the Stoke Mandeville Games.
By 1960, it had earned a Paralympic stage in Rome with 25 medal events and just 31 athletes. From wheelchair racing’s debut in Tokyo 1964 to marathon races in 1984, the sport kept expanding.
Today, after decades of records, innovations, and rising female participation, Para athletics stands as one of the fastest-growing branches of the Paralympic movement.
What Sports Are Played In The World Para Athletics 2025?
Para athletics has come a long way since Heidelberg 1972, where, for the first time, blind athletes competed in the events. And over the decades, sports like sprinting, marathons, and throws have been added to many classifications.
| Type | Event | Eligible Classes (each classification distinct for men/women) |
|---|---|---|
| Track | 100m | T11, T12, T13, T35, T36, T37, T38, T47, T53, T54, T63, T64, T72 |
| Track | 200m | T35, T36, T37, T38, T47, T64, T72 |
| Track | 400m | T11, T12, T13, T20, T36, T37, T38, T47, T53, T54, T62, T64, T72 |
| Track | 800m | T20, T34, T53, T54 |
| Track | 1500m | T11, T13, T20, T38, T46, T54 |
| Track | 5000m | T11, T13, T54 |
| Track | Marathon | T12, T46, T54 |
| Track | 4x100m Relay | T11-13 (universal), T35-38, T42-47, T51-54, T61-64 |
| Field | Long Jump | T11, T12, T13, T20, T36, T37, T38, T47, T63, T64 |
| Field | High Jump | T47, T63, T64 |
| Field | Shot Put | F11, F12, F20, F32-38, F41, F42-47, F53-57, F61-64 |
| Field | Discus Throw | F11, F37, F38, F41, F44, F52, F55, F57, F61, F64 |
| Field | Javelin Throw | F13, F34-38, F41, F44, F46, F57, F61, F64 |
| Field | Club Throw | F32, F51 |
Para athletics has always been about precision. Classifications run from T11–T13 for visually impaired runners to F32–F64 for field athletes managing limb or coordination impairments.
Equipment changed the game too, where those racing wheelchairs of the 1970s didn’t just look different, they stretched the track from 100 metres all the way to marathons.
Fast forward to Tokyo 2020, and you get the universal relay, a mixed-gender event built on teamwork across four very different disability classes.
Names like Franz Nietlispach in ’88 or Bart Dodson in ’92 still echo, but 2025 feels different. India is here with its biggest-ever team across throws, jumps, and sprints.
Which Countries Are Participating In The 2025 World Para Athletics Championship?
The 2025 World Para Athletics Championships is the largest one its history has seen yet. With 2,200 athletes and support staff from 104 countries in total, the 9 days of Para athletics in New Delhi will be exciting ot say the least.
These are the top 5 countries with the most athletes.
| Country | No. of Athletes |
|---|---|
| India | 73 |
| China | 58 |
| Brazil | 50 |
| Australia | 49 |
| United States | 39 |
Some nations bring huge squads, while others arrive in small but dangerous groups. India’s 73-member team (19 women among them) is its biggest to date, underlining rapid growth in domestic para-sport infrastructure.
The U.S., long a para-athletics powerhouse, may not bring its largest squad here, but the presence of gold medallists and fresh talent makes it always dangerous.
Great Britain and China remain among the most successful historically. Great Britain has accumulated nearly 400 total medals in World Para Athletics, while China leads all-time in golds at multiple editions.
With over 104 countries confirmed, this 2025 edition is likely the most globally representative yet.
India’s Participation & Squad In The 2025 World Para Athletics
Preeti Pal, India’s double bronze medalist, is set to bear the flag for the Indian team this year at the event. While more athletes aim for higher peaks, like Rinku Hooda, a star para-javeline thrower, sai,d “Aim Is To Win The Gold Medal”.
| Sport / Event | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Javelin Throw | Ajeet Singh, Hem Chandra, Mahendra Gurjar, Manjeet, Navdeep, Pardeep Kumar, Parveen Kumar, Pushpendra Singh, Rinku, Sandeep, Sandip Sanjay, Sumit Antil, Sundar Singh Gurjar | Bhavanaben Ajabaji, Suchitra Parida |
| Shot Put | Atul Kaushik, Ayush Verma, Hokato Hotozhe Sema, Manu, Mohd Yasser, Monu Ghangas, Praveen, Ravi Rongali, Sagar, Sachin Sarjerao Khilari, Shubham Juyal, Soman Rana | Amisha Rawat, Bhagyashri M. Jadhav, Dayawanti, Keerthika Jayachandran, Sharmila |
| Discus Throw | Atul Kaushik, Birbhadra Singh, Devender Kumar, Haney, Monu Ghangas, Pardeep, Priyansh Kumar, Sagar Thayat, Yogesh Kathuniya | Dayawanti, Kanchan Lakhani, Karamjyoti, Pooja, Sakshi Kasana |
| Long Jump | Ajay Singh, Dharmaraj Solairaj, Mahendra Gurjar, Mit Bharatbhai Patel, Unni Renu, Varun Singh Bhati, Vikas, Vishu | Suresh Nimisha |
| High Jump | Banti, Nishad Kumar, Parveen Kumar, Rahul, Ram Pal, Shailesh Kumar, Varun Singh Bhati | — |
| Club Throw | Dharambir, Pranav Soorma | Anandhi Kulanthaisamy, Ekta Bhyan, Kashish Lakra |
| Track (100m/200m/400m) | Banothu Akira Nandan (400m), Dilip Mahadu Gavit (400m), Rakeshbhai Bhatt (100m), Sandeep (200m), Shreyansh Trivedi (100m) | Anjanaben Rohitbhai (400m), Deepthi Jeevanji (400m), Preeti Pal (100m, 200m), Simran (100m, 200m) |
India enters the championships on the back of its best-ever Paralympics campaign, having won 29 medals in Paris 2024, including seven golds.
The home squad of 73 is the largest in its history, with expectations to exceed the 20-medal mark.
Athletes like Sumit Antil (Javelin), Preethi Pal (T35 sprints), Yogesh Kathuniya (Discus), and Nishad Kumar (High Jump) are among those whose eyes will be on.
Many debutants like Atul Kaushik, Haney, Vishu, and others add new energy and possibilities.
Internationally, the competition is stiff, with defending champions from Kobe 2024 and rising stars from Europe, Africa, and the Americas looking to break championship records or longstanding world records in certain classes.
Full Schedule Of The World Para Athletics Championship 2025
While the final events start from 27th September, the athletes will all go under an assessment to keep the competition fair, from September 23 to September 26.
| Date | Session | Men’s Finals | Women’s Finals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1: Sat, Sep 27 | Morning | 100m (T11, T12, T13), Long Jump (T11, T12, T13), Javelin Throw (F12, F13) | 100m (T12, T13), Shot Put (F11, F12, F13), Javelin Throw (F12, F13) |
| Evening | 100m (T42, T44), 400m (T35, T36), High Jump (T42, T44), Shot Put (F40, F41, F42), Discus Throw (F40, F41, F42, F43) | 100m (T44), 400m (T35, T36), High Jump (T42, T44), Shot Put (F40, F41, F42), Discus Throw (F40, F41, F42, F43) | |
| Day 2: Sun, Sep 28 | Morning | 200m (T11, T12), 800m (T52, T53), Discus Throw (F11, F12), Javelin Throw (F40, F41, F42) | 200m (T11, T12), 800m (T52, T53), Discus Throw (F11, F12), Javelin Throw (F40, F41, F42) |
| Evening | 100m (T35, T36, T37), Long Jump (T35, T36, T37), Javelin Throw (F35, F36, F37), Shot Put (F51, F52, F53), Club Throw (F51) | 100m (T35, T36, T37), Long Jump (T35, T36, T37), Javelin Throw (F35, F36, F37), Shot Put (F51, F52, F53), Club Throw (F51) | |
| Day 3: Mon, Sep 29 | Morning | 400m (T11, T12), 1500m (T11, T12), 5000m (T11, T12), Long Jump (T40, T41), Shot Put (F35, F36) | 400m (T11, T12), 1500m (T11, T12), 5000m (T11, T12), Long Jump (T40, T41), Shot Put (F35, F36) |
| Evening | 100m (T45, T46, T47), Long Jump (T45, T46, T47), Javelin Throw (F45, F46), Discus Throw (F45, F46), Shot Put (F61-64) | 100m (T45, T46, T47), Long Jump (T45, T46, T47), Javelin Throw (F45, F46), Discus Throw (F45, F46), Shot Put (F61-64) | |
| Day 4: Tue, Sep 30 | Morning | 400m (T20), Long Jump (T20), Javelin Throw (F20), Shot Put (F20), Discus Throw (F20) | 400m (T20), Long Jump (T20), Javelin Throw (F20), Shot Put (F20), Discus Throw (F20) |
| Evening | 100m (T61-64), Long Jump (T61-64), Shot Put (F61-64), Discus Throw (F61-64) | 100m (T61-64), Long Jump (T61-64), Shot Put (F61-64), Discus Throw (F61-64) | |
| Day 5: Wed, Oct 1 | Morning | 200m (T37, T38), Long Jump (T38), Javelin Throw (F38), Shot Put (F38), Discus Throw (F38) | 200m (T37, T38), Long Jump (T38), Javelin Throw (F38), Shot Put (F38), Discus Throw (F38) |
| Evening | 100m (T51, T52), 400m (T51, T52), 800m (T51, T52), 1500m (T51, T52), 5000m (T51, T52) | 100m (T51, T52), 400m (T51, T52), 800m (T51, T52), 1500m (T51, T52), 5000m (T51, T52) | |
| Day 6: Thu, Oct 2 | Morning | 400m (T42, T44), 1500m (T42, T44), 5000m (T42, T44), Javelin Throw (F51), Shot Put (F51), Discus Throw (F51) | 400m (T42, T44), 1500m (T42, T44), 5000m (T42, T44), Javelin Throw (F51), Shot Put (F51), Discus Throw (F51) |
| Evening | 100m (T53, T54), 400m (T53, T54), Long Jump (T53, T54), Javelin Throw (F53, F54), Shot Put (F53, F54) | 100m (T53, T54), 400m (T53, T54), Long Jump (T53, T54), Javelin Throw (F53, F54), Shot Put (F53, F54) | |
| Day 7: Fri, Oct 3 | Morning | 200m (T45, T46, T47), 800m (T45, T46, T47), Javelin Throw (F55, F56), Shot Put (F55, F56), Discus Throw (F55, F56) | 200m (T45, T46, T47), 800m (T45, T46, T47), Javelin Throw (F55, F56), Shot Put (F55, F56), Discus Throw (F55, F56) |
| Evening | 1500m (T53, T54), 5000m (T53, T54), Javelin Throw (F57), Shot Put (F57), Discus Throw (F57) | 1500m (T53, T54), 5000m (T53, T54), Javelin Throw (F57), Shot Put (F57), Discus Throw (F57) | |
| Day 8: Sat, Oct 4 | Morning | 200m (T51, T52), Marathon (T12, T54, T46, T20) | 200m (T51, T52), Marathon (T12, T54, T46, T20) |
| Evening | 200m (T53, T54), 800m (T13), High Jump (T63, T64), Triple Jump (T36, T37), Pole Vault (T44), Club Throw (F32, F33, F34) | 200m (T53, T54), 800m (T13), High Jump (T63, T64), Triple Jump (T36, T37), Pole Vault (T44), Club Throw (F32, F33, F34) | |
| Day 9: Sun, Oct 5 | Morning | 200m (T61-64), Long Jump (T61-64), Shot Put (F37), Discus Throw (F37), 4x100m Relay (Universal) | 200m (T61-64), Long Jump (T61-64), Shot Put (F37), Discus Throw (F37), 4x100m Relay (Universal) |
| Evening | 400m (T62, T64), 1500m (T37, T38), 5000m (T13), Discus Throw (F32, F33, F34), Shot Put (F32, F33, F34) | 400m (T62, T64), 1500m (T37, T38), 5000m (T13), Discus Throw (F32, F33, F34), Shot Put (F32, F33, F34) |
For all the days of the competition, the morning session will start at 9:00 AM and the evening at 11:30 AM local time for New Delhi, which is GMT +5:30.
And in the same local time, the evening session will begin at 17:00 hours or 5:00 PM and go on till 8:30 PM or 20:30 hours.
World Para Athletics Championships 2025 Tickets Details
As of now, there has been no official information about the tickets to the venue from any of the official sources, nor have any ticketing partners been announced.
India’s Preparations For The 2025 World Para Athletics Championship
India is upgrading the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN) for the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.
The government, via the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Paralympic Committee of India, installed a new Mondo track, completed in four months at a cost of ₹24.25 crore.
Stadium improvements include two long jump pits (one for Para athletes), accessible gyms, and renovations to meet Para standards.
IndianOil is backing the championship as the title sponsor, while Prasar Bharati will handle nationwide broadcast coverage.
Athletes will stay in hotels, including Taj Palace, The Leela, Shangri-La, and ITC, all close to the training venues. Of the 1,270 rooms booked, around 400 are fully wheelchair-accessible.
Separate training areas and classification zones are being prepared to meet international standards.
The Delhi Police also contributed their part by conducting mock drills in the stadium with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), and the CATS (Centralised Accident & Trauma Services).
The mock drill was aimed at creating awareness and checking if the stadium is prepared for fire safety, accident management, bomb threats, and crowd control.
And to add a touch of media, AR Rahman, a two-time Academy Award winner, has shown his support for the championships and has called the players a “celebration of courage, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit.”
Why Are The World Para Athletics Championships Important?
The World Para Athletics Championships are big for a reason. They give athletes a stage outside the Paralympics, a place to push themselves, measure against the best, and see where they stand.
It’s about fairness, inclusion, classifications, all those rules matter because they make competition real and meaningful. And it’s about showing the world what determination looks like.
Athletes are overcoming physical, visual, or intellectual challenges, day after day. For India, hosting is a chance to show the stadiums, the training, and to say that disability sport has a home here.
Records To Watch For In The World Para Athletics 2025
The 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi will bring together some of the sport’s finest names. Ezra Frech from the USA is a force in the T63 high jump.
The Netherlands’ Fleur Jong is a multiple-time Paralympic champion and a key contender in the long jump. She is known for her T62 class dominance.
Brazil’s Petrúcio Ferreira is one of the world’s fastest men. He will be defending his title in the T47 sprints, aiming for another win.
Germany’s Markus Rehm, the “Blade Jumper,” will compete in the T64 long jump. He is a multi-time world record holder.
China’s Xiaoyan Wen is a top athlete in the T37 class, specializing in sprints and long jump. Australia’s James Turner is also a strong competitor.
Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner will be a key athlete to watch in wheelchair racing, bringing a streak of recent victories to the field.
Preethi Pal, a home favorite who made history with two bronze medals in the 100m and 200m T35 at Paris 2024, adds to India’s strong lineup and is tipped as a breakthrough performer.
Greece’s Athanasios Ghavelas, the world’s fastest T11 sprinter and a two-time Paralympic champion, will aim to repeat his Paris success.
In contrast, Tunisia’s Raoua Tlili, a 10-time world champion in shot put F57, continues to set the standard. With such names, New Delhi promises a thrilling championship.
India’s Performance At The Last World Para Athletics Championship
India’s results at the World Para Athletics Championships have grown stronger with each edition. At Kobe 2024, the team finished with 17 medals in events ranging from sprints to throws and jumps.
In earlier years, the numbers were smaller, but a few names still stood out. Yogesh Kathuniya and Sumit Antil, among others, set national records and gave India a place on the global stage.
Sumit Antil is a double Paralympic gold medalist in javelin throw F64, and is pushing to better his 73.29m personal best, and has spoken about testing himself against able-bodied athletes.
Yogesh Kathuniya, who won silver in discus F56 at Tokyo 2020, is determined to break the world record in his event.
Another change has been the size of the squad. More athletes are being selected now, and many are first-time participants. This shows the sport is spreading wider, backed by better training and support for para-athletes in the country.
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Conclusion: The World Para Athletics Championship 2025 Starts 27th September In New Delhi
The 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi will mark a milestone, where for the first time India will host a record number of participants, in an upgraded venue and expanded event programme.
Indian para athletes step into this competition with both hope and pressure, seeking to break past performances, medals, and maybe records.
For global fans, this is about inclusion, determination, and resilience. Keep your eyes on 27 September through 5 October 2025 at JLN Stadium. And stream live on the official Paralympics YouTube Channel.
FAQs
Wheelchair basketball, para swimming, sitting volleyball, goalball, para cycling and many more sports are contested alongside athletics at the Paralympic Games.
Japan hosted the previous edition in Kobe in 2024.
Athletes must meet Minimum Entry Standards during the qualification period, be classified in eligible categories, and be entered by their National Paralympic Committee.
Historically, nations like China, the United States, and Great Britain top the all-time medal tables for World Para Athletics.
Classifications group athletes based on type and severity of impairment (e.g., visual, limb, coordination), ensuring fair competition across track and field events.
