New Delhi to host World Para Athletics Championships in 2025

New Delhi to host World Para Athletics Championships in 2025

New Delhi is set to host the World Para Athletics Championships in 2025 at the city’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the World Para Athletics (WPA) announced on Thursday.

The event will be held between September 26 and October 5, making it the first time that the tournament is taking place in India.

However, it won’t be the first time that the championship is being hosted in Asia. It was held in Doha (2015), Dubai (2019), and Kobe this year.

Moreover, India’s capital will also host a World Para Athletics Grand Prix, serving as a precursor to the marquee event, scheduled to take place between March 11 and 13.

“NPC India is privileged to host the Para Athletics World Championships for the first time in India. This historic event marks a significant milestone in India’s journey to becoming a global sporting powerhouse and strengthens our bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” the National Paralympic Committee of India said in a statement.

“We are delighted to announce that the first major championships of the new Paralympic cycle towards Los Angeles 2028 will be hosted in New Delhi. The 2025 Para Athletics World Championships will be the largest international Para sport event ever to take place in India, representing a massive opportunity to grow our sport, our fan base, and to impact society’s perception of persons with disabilities in the world’s most populous nation,” Paul Fitzgerald, Head of World Para Athletics, said.

In the 2024 edition of the World Championships, India finished in the top six in the table after it 17 medals, including six gold.