The world’s largest single Para sport event is set to take place in India for the first time, as New Delhi hosts the 2025 Para Athletics World Championships. Scheduled from 26 September to 5 October 2025 at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, this landmark event marks a significant milestone in the growth of Para sports in the country. The announcement was made by World Para Athletics (WPA) on 19 December 2024.
The 2025 edition will be the 12th Para Athletics World Championships and the fourth time the event is being held in Asia, following successful editions in Doha (2015), Dubai (2019), and Kobe (2024). The event is expected to attract over 1,000 athletes from more than 100 nations, making it the largest international Para sport event ever hosted in India.
In addition to the championships, New Delhi will host a World Para Athletics Grand Prix for the first time next year. The Grand Prix is scheduled from 11 to 13 March 2025, providing fans an early taste of the excitement of Para athletics ahead of the world championships.
Two-time Paralympics and World Championships silver medallist Yogesh Kathuniya expressed his excitement about the World Championships being hosted on home soil. “I am really excited that the World Championships are happening in India. It opens up a lot of future opportunities to host more such international events,” he said exclusively to RevSportz.
Highlighting the advantages of competing at home, Kathuniya added, “It makes it easier for us, because it is the home ground, and we know the grounds in and out. The traveling is less, and you get home support.”
Kathuniya also emphasised the positive societal impacts of the event. “Many people will be able to see the events from the stands, and it’ll increase awareness for Para sports among the masses. It will influence many young Para athletes to take up the sport more seriously as well,” he remarked.
Paul Fitzgerald, Head of World Para Athletics, emphasised the significance of hosting the championships in India. “We are delighted to announce that the first major championships of the new Paralympic cycle towards Los Angeles 2028 will be hosted in New Delhi. This event represents a massive opportunity to grow our sport, expand our fan base, and impact society’s perception of persons with disabilities in the world’s most populous nation,” he said. [International Paralympic Committee]
Fitzgerald praised India’s remarkable progress in Para athletics over the past decade, highlighting the country’s achievements, including winning two silver medals at the Doha 2015 World Championships, and 17 medals—including six gold—at the 2024 Worlds in Kobe. “This success reflects the work of the National Paralympic Committee of India and the investment being made in sports, particularly Para athletics, in the country. We believe this event will leave a lasting legacy, making Para sports more visible and accessible to everyone,” he added.
The National Paralympic Committee of India (NPC India) expressed pride in hosting the event. “This historic event marks a significant milestone in India’s journey to becoming a global sporting powerhouse and strengthens our bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” NPC India said in a statement.
“With a population of over 60 million persons with disabilities, this event is a crucial step in fostering inclusivity, empowering athletes, and expanding opportunities for athletes with disabilities. This event will showcase India’s unparalleled growth in the field of Para sports and align with the vision of a ‘New India’ as emphasized by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.”