New Delhi 2025: Preview, stars and how to watch the World Para Athletics Championships

Multi-Paralympic champions Raoua Tlili, Petrucio Ferreira and Di Dongdong headline a stellar cast of athletes chasing gold as the IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships begin on Saturday (27 September).

More than 1,100 athletes from over 100 nations will be competing in 184 events through 5 October – 13 more than the previous edition in Kobe, Japan, last year. New Delhi 2025 is the largest single Para sport event to be held in India.

All action unfolds at the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium, newly equipped with a MONDO track for the World Championships. The venue hosted a World Para Athletics Grand Prix for the first time in March and will remain part of the GP for the next three years.

Day One Highlights

USA’s Ezra Frech, Paralympic champion in the men’s high jump T63, will aim to unify his titles after settling for silver at the 2024 Worlds. He will face a strong Indian trio: Rahul, Bhati Varun Singh and Kumar Shailesh.

The women’s 400m T20 will close the opening day with a thrilling showdown between India’s Deepthi Jeevanji, world champion and Paralympic bronze medallist, and Yuliia Shuliar of Ukraine, the Paris 2024 gold medallist.

India will field its largest-ever squad with 73 athletes (54 men and 19 women), reflecting the country’s rapid rise in Para athletics. From a single silver at the London 2012 Paralympics, India soared to 18 medals (including four golds) at Paris 2024.

How to watch!

New Delhi 2025 will be streamed live on the Paralympics YouTube channel with geo-blocking restrictions in India. Home fans can watch the World Championships on Doordashan.

The list of national rights-holders can be found below.

Brazil: CazéTV and Globo

Canada: CBC

Finland: YLE

Germany: ARD and ZDF

India: Doordarshan

Italy: RAI

Poland: TVP

Thailand: TSport7

Powerhouses

China has brought the largest international delegation to the World Championships with 58 athletes, aiming to top the medal standings once. Among their stars is Xiaoyan Wen (T37), who won three individual golds and the universal relay title at Paris 2024, and has eight world titles to her name.

Brazil and Australia round up the top three largest teams. Brazilian had a stellar 2024, finishing second in Kobe and third in Paris. On day one, they will look to defend their titles with Yeltsin Jacques in the men’s 5000m T11, Elizabeth Gomes in the women’s discus F53 and Petrucio Ferreira in the men’s 100m T47.

The fastest Paralympian on the planet with a personal best of 10.29, Ferreira is chasing a fifth consecutive gold in the event.

For Vanessa Low of Australia, New Delhi 2025 marks a full-circle moment. The reigning world champion and three-time Paralympic gold medallist in the women’s long jump T63, she made her international debut in India at the 2009 IWAS World Games in Bengaluru.

Germany’s legendary Markus Rehm, the “Blade Jumper” returns in pursuit of an eight world title in the men’s long jump T64. A five-time Paralympic champion and world record holder (8.72m), Rehm was Germany’s sole gold medallist in Paris – a Games described as a “low point” by national coach Marion Peters.

The 27-athlete German squad includes other three reigning world champions: Johannes Floors (men’s 400m T62), Niko Kappel (men’s shot put F41) and Leon Schaeffer (men’s 100m T63 and long jump T63).