By breaking the barriers and setting new benchmarks, world para athletes are playing a vital role in strengthening the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.

India has become the fourth Asian nation after Qatar (2015), UAE (2019) and Japan (2024) to host the World Para Athletics Championships. The event, organized by the Paralympics Committee of India, was declared open by Union minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya.

In a special message welcoming around 2,200 participants from 100 nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Sport has a great way of connecting people, transcending all barriers of religion, region and nationality. In today’s world, it is all the more important to emphasize this unifying aspect of sport. I am sure the WPAC will have a similar impact on all the participants and spectators.”

Denis Gnezdilov towers over F40 Shot Put competition with two world record efforts

Denis Gnezdilov strode the Shot Put circle like a colossus, gunning down the men’s F40 World Record twice at the 2025 Para World Athletics Championships. Each of his five throws after the opening 10.66m effort was good enough for him to get the gold.

The Rustavi-born 38-year-old was in a league of his own, the 11.85m on his third attempt enabling him to break Paralympic gold medalist Miguel Monteiro’s World Record and the 11.92m on the last throw raise the bar higher.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medal winner claimed his third World Championship crown to firmly establish his place in the sport’s history.

Colonel Carlo’s unwavering spirit triumphs over Parkinson’s And Sclerosis

Despite suffering from sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and a dependence on an oxygen cylinder, Italian para-athlete Carlo Fabio Marcello Calcagni proved that the strength of the human spirit outweighs physical ailment, securing a gold medal and setting a new championship record in the Men’s 400m T72 final at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.

The former Italian army colonel powered his three-wheeled frame across the finish line with an impressive time of 59.91 seconds, later declaring that the true victory was not the medal itself, but the chance “to live and not to survive.”

He is also the world record holder in this category (59.43 seconds). “I was the world champion in Kobe last year. And it’s more difficult to repeat. Because I have a very big responsibility, as I am the world champion”, said Carlo.

Sabrina Fortune’s world record shares spotlight with Rinku Hooda gold

Great Britain’s Sabrina Fortune annexed her fourth Women’s Shot Put F20 gold medal with a World Record. Fortune said, “I just wasn’t expecting that today. It’s so, so hot. So many things have gone wrong in the last week. It’s just one of them things that make you so happy. 

Reflecting on her journey as a four-time world champion, she said it was down to having a good coach and good places to train. “I had a few years where I just didn’t improve, and I feel it’s just coming back now, and I am improving. Honestly, as long as you believe in yourself, I think it’ll always carry on,” she said.

On the other hand, Rinku Hooda claimed a memorable Men’s Javelin Throw F46 gold for India beating the past three champions. Rinku threw the gauntlet down opening with 63.81m for a new mark, but Sundar Singh Gurjar sent the spear soaring over 64.11m on the third try to claim the record. However, a pumped up Rinku Hooda regained it with his fifth attempt to seal the win.

Rinku’s family and friends were in attendance, part of a strong, raucous crowd. Things were indeed building up to all intents and purposes. “I’m so thankful to my supporters and my family. Their presence encouraged me a great deal. It was my day, every thing went my way, from conditions to everything else,” Rinku enthused after his gold.

Many years ago, when Rinku lost his arm in a farming equipment accident, his family would not have thought there would be a day when he will be an international star, the cynosure of all eyes. “That was a dark day for us. When he lost his arm, the whole village [Dhamar, close to Rohtak, Haryana] fell into a sad silence for weeks. For us, it was the end of the world but life surprises you when you see where he has reached today,” Wazir Singh Hooda, Rinku’s uncle, said.

Saudi sprinter Naif Almasrahi sets World Record, Kathuniya settles for silver

Naif Almasrahi breezed to victory with a new World Record in the Men’s 100m T44 final at the World Para Athletics Championships. He clocked 10.94 seconds on a morning when F56 Discus Thrower Yogesh Kathuniya added a silver to India’s kitty.

Kathuniya, gunning for his maiden gold at the global level, had to settle for silver after each of Brazilian ace Claudiney Batista’s six throws were better than the Indian’s best effort of 42.49.

“It is a different feeling since I won silver on my home ground,” Yogesh Kathuniya said. “Everyone was watching, the family members were also here. There was a lot of pressure in the Paris Paralympics, but here everyone was cheering me on,” he added.

Relentless Sumit chases down history

Sumit Antil and Sandip Singh Sargar made it a most memorable evening for India with gold medals in the F64 and F44 Javelin Throw finals.

With 2020 Olympic and 2023 World Champion Neeraj Chopra in the house, Sumit Antil buckled down to the task of chasing the Championship record despite being in a league of his own. He had three throws beyond the 65m in his first four attempts and did not relent though the gold was assured. He nailed a new meet mark of 71.37m with his fifth try.

It was Sumit Antil’s third World Championships, the most won by an Indian. His earlier victories had come in 2023 Paris where he set a World Record of 70.83m and in 2024 Kobe where he claimed gold with a 69.50m. His determination to make his hat-trick special was on evidence as he locked his focus on his goal.