PM Modi: 'India Is Proud To Host The World Para Athletics Championships'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Thursday that hosting the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships will reaffirm India as a “sporting and inclusive” nation to the world. The opening ceremony of the WPAC 2025 took place at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

In a special message welcoming around 2,200 participants from 100 nations, PM Modi said, “By breaking barriers and setting new benchmarks, para athletes have played a vital role in strengthening India’s identity as a rising sporting hub, motivating millions to embrace sports as a way of life.”

India is the fourth Asian nation, after Qatar (2015), the UAE (2019), and Japan (2024), to host the World Para Athletics Championships. The event is organised by the Paralympics Committee

of India, according to a release from the Sports Ministry.

“India is proud to host the World Para Athletics Championships for the first time. At a time our nation is being recognised as a sporting and inclusive nation, it is an immense honour to organise a tournament of such magnitude,” Modi said in his message.

“The remarkable performances of para athletes have redefined the meaning of resilience and determination, inspiring both sportspersons and common people across the world. Their achievements have ignited a collective belief that no challenge is insurmountable,” the PM said.

“Sport has a great way of connecting people, transcending all barriers of religion, region, and nationality. In today’s world, it is more important to emphasise this unifying aspect of sport. I am sure the WPAC will have a similar impact on all participants and spectators.” PM Modi added.

In Kobe, Japan, India delivered its best-ever performance at the World Para Athletics Championships, winning 17 medals—six gold, five silver, and six bronze—to finish 6th overall. In the 2023 edition in Paris, India broke its previous record by winning 10 medals (3 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze), setting the stage for what followed.

PM Modi praised India’s rising dominance in para sports, saying, “The remarkable performances of para athletes have redefined the meaning of resilience and determination, inspiring sportspersons and common people across the world. Their achievements have ignited a collective belief that no challenge is insurmountable.”

The colourful opening ceremony was attended by the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse, the Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta, Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut, the Education Minister of Delhi, Ashish Sood, and Paul Fitzgerald, the head of World Para Athletics.

What Is World Para Athletics Championships?

The para athletes will compete in 186 medal events, 15 more than the 2024 edition in Kobe, Japan.

The championships promise fierce rivalries and top-class performances, with over 100 medallists who collectively won 308 medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, including 112 gold, 96 silver, and 100 bronze, set to test their skills on the grandest para athletics stage.

There will be 101 events for men, 84 for women, and one mixed event in the championships, being hosted by the country for the first time.

Leading the charge will be Germany’s Markus Rehm, the four-time Paralympic champion and seven-time world champion in the men’s long jump T64. Known as the ‘Blade Jumper’, Rehm holds a world record that surpasses every Olympic gold medal jump this century.

India’s pride, Sumit Antil, two-time Paralympic gold medallist and defending champion in men’s javelin F64, is set to dazzle the home crowd once again.

Hosts India will have 73 para athletes competing in front of the home crowd, the largest ever in any edition of the championships so far.

The athletes will also have the privilege of competing on newly-laid Mondo tracks, both inaugurated by Mandaviya last month.

(With inputs from Agencies)