World Para Athletics Championships 2025

New Delhi is set to make history as it prepares to host the 12th edition of the World Para Athletics Championships, the largest Para sport event ever held in India. Scheduled from 26 September to 5 October 2025 at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium, this prestigious global event will feature over 2,500 athletes from more than 100 countries, marking an unprecedented scale for the para athletics movement in the country.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, built originally for the 1982 Asian Games and later revamped for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, stands as a symbol of India’s sporting legacy. With a seating capacity of 60,000, the stadium is maintained by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) under the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. This venue will serve as the central stage for nine days of intense competition, from 27 September to 5 October, showcasing the talents of athletes with disabilities across a wide range of track and field disciplines.

The competition programme will comprise 186 medal events, including 101 men's events, 84 women's events, and one mixed event—an increase of 15 medal events compared to the last edition held in Kobe, Japan in 2024. This reflects not only the growing scale of the event but also its increased inclusivity and opportunities for para athletes to compete at the highest level. (Note: Para Athletics refers to track and field events for athletes with physical, visual, or intellectual impairments, governed by classification systems to ensure fair competition.)

This will be the fourth time Asia hosts the World Para Athletics Championships, following earlier editions in Doha (Qatar, 2015), Dubai (UAE, 2019), and Kobe (Japan, 2024), underscoring the region’s growing commitment to inclusive sports.

Adding a festive spirit to the build-up, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta recently unveiled the official logo, mascot, and flagged off the '100 Days to Go' countdown in a grand ceremony in the capital. She emphasized that the government is committed to making this event a landmark celebration of inclusivity and athletic excellence, and to firmly establishing India as a leading host for global para sports events.

Bolstering public engagement and awareness, celebrated actor and politician Kangana Ranaut has been named the 'brand ambassador' for the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships. Ranaut, currently a Member of Parliament from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi constituency, is known for her bold performances in films like Fashion and Queen. Speaking about her role, she said,

“India’s para athletes are rewriting what is possible every single day. Para sport is not just about competition—it is about courage, and I am proud to stand behind our champions.”

Para sport, as Ranaut highlighted, transcends mere athletic competition—it symbolizes resilience, determination, and the human spirit’s triumph over adversity. Her appointment was applauded by Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) President Devendra Jhajharia, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist in javelin, who stated, “Her passion, influence, and commitment to India's athletes make her a perfect ambassador.”

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