World Para Athletics Championships Open in New Delhi

The 12th World Para Athletics Championships opened at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on 27 September and run through 5 October, marking the first time India has hosted the event. About 2,200 athletes from 104 countries are contesting 186 medal events over nine days, with more than 100 Paralympic medallists on the start list. India has named its largest-ever contingent of 73 athletes and aims to improve on a previous best of 17 world-championship medals, with medal hopefuls including javelin champion Sumit Antil, sprinter Preethi Pal, high jumper Praveen Kumar, Dharambir Nain, Navdeep, thrower Mahendra Gurjar and Day 1 contender Deepthi Jevanji (women’s 400m T20). Organisers inaugurated India's first competition-grade Mondo track and a Mondo warm-up track and completed accessibility upgrades — ramps, elevators, renovated restrooms and a fitness centre — as part of roughly ₹85 crore in preparations intended to leave a para-sport legacy. A cultural opening ceremony accompanied the launch, organisers warned of fierce competition, and fans can follow the nine days of action via Doordarshan and online streaming.