India claimed a gold medal on the opening day of the World Para Athletics Championships to start its home campaign on a strong note. Shailesh Kumar bagged gold while Varun Bhati clinched bronze in the men’s high jump on Saturday (September 27).
Kumar also broke the previous figure to set a new Championship Record of 1.91m in the T42 category. Meanwhile, USA’s Ezra Frech, the reigning Olympic champion, won the silver medal. Both Frech and Bhati had a best clearance of 1.85m, but on countback, the American beat the Indian to take second place on the podium.
Rahul, the third Indian among the five finalists, finished fourth as he could not go higher than 1.78m. In other good news, India’s Deepthi Jeevanji also claimed a prestigious silver medal in the Women’s 400 meter T20 final to take India’s total medal tally to 3 on the opening day of the tournament.
India hosts the biggest World Para Championship event in history
The 12th World Para Athletics Championships started today in Delhi. The championship is scheduled to take place from September 27 to October 5. This marks India’s debut as the host of the event. Over 1000 athletes from more than 100 countries are participating, making it the largest para-sport gathering ever held in India.
The event features 186 medal events across various track and field disciplines, including sprints, relays, long-distance races, jumps, and throws. This is 15 more medal events than the previous championships in Kobe. The Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium, the venue for the Championships, has been upgraded with a new MONDO track and athlete-friendly facilities to meet global standards.
PM Modi on World Para Athletics Championships
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the athletes and delegates earlier today and highlighting the nation’s pride in hosting the event and its commitment to promoting inclusivity and a vibrant sporting culture. In a post on X, he said, “A warm welcome and best wishes to all participants. This tournament celebrates human determination and spirit. May this tournament inspire a more inclusive and vibrant sporting culture across the world.”
Indian athletes have shown significant growth in the sport, increasing their medal tally from two silvers at Doha 2015 to 17 medals at the Kobe 2024 World Championships.