Gargi Raut in New Delhi
Ahead of the World Para Athletics Championships that began on September 26 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, a quiet anticipation was building among Indian para-athletes. After all, they were set to compete on home soil for the first time in the history of the global competition. The JLN stadium was decked out after complete renovation of the stands, the warm-up arena and the impressive MONDO track, the first in the country. After India’s phenomenal show at the 2024 Paris Paralympics and the newfound respect, admiration and popularity among the public for the Para-athletes, a decent turnout was expected for the global event in Delhi.
Stars from across the country were roped in to market the event. At the jersey launch, Bollywood star and Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut was the chief guest. Later, Neeraj Chopra, perhaps India’s greatest sportsperson, too held a press conference on October 1 to maximise the reach of the event. Alas, not many turned up at the stadium.
With the medal tally already reaching 11, India’s para-athletes are doing the best they can to bring laurels to the nation. India has now cemented its place as one of the serious contenders in Para events thanks to the success of the athletes, but the public still remains painfully unaware. But who is to blame here? While we’re seeing a slow but steady revolution in Para sports in India, the low turnout of fans at the JLN stadium shows that while India now has the facilities to host major international sporting events, the marketing of these is still a huge problem.
Paris saw almost the same number of fans turning up for both the Olympics and the Paralympics. The recently concluded World Championships in Tokyo too saw a huge fan attendance, but the excitement for sports other than cricket still remains a concern for India.
The World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi should have been a celebration of progress, and of India’s arrival as a force in para sport. The athletes have done their part, excelling on the track and field to put India firmly on the medal table. But empty stands are a reminder that true change isn’t just about infrastructure or medals; it’s about cultural acceptance and recognition. For para sport in India to truly thrive, fans must show up, not just in spirit on social media, but in person.
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