India registered its best-ever performance at the World Para Athletics Championships (WPAC) 2025, winning 22 medals, including six gold, as the nine-day event concluded at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday.
The standout moment came when Simran Sharma created history by becoming the first Indian sprinter to win a world title in the 100m, clinching gold in the women’s T12 100m final with a personal best of 11.95 seconds.
India matched its gold tally from WPAC 2024 (six) but improved its overall medal haul from 17 in 2024 to 22 this year, marking a significant milestone in para athletics.
India’s Six Gold Medalists
🥇 Sandip Sargar – Men’s Javelin Throw F44
The Maharashtra thrower became a world champion for the first time with a personal best of 62.82m, a remarkable turnaround from his fifth-place finish in 2024. Once a delivery boy to support his training, Sargar’s perseverance paid off on the grandest stage.
🥇 Shailesh Kumar – Men’s High Jump T63
Kumar cleared 1.91m to beat reigning Paralympic champion Ezra Frech and compatriot Varun Bhati. The Asian Para Games gold medallist credited the comfort of “home food” for his success in Delhi.
🥇 Rinku Hooda – Men’s Javelin Throw F46
Hooda struck gold with a championship record of 66.37m, overcoming a highly competitive field. The 26-year-old, India’s youngest Paralympian in Rio 2016, dedicated his medal to his family present in the stands.
🥇 Sumit Antil – Men’s Javelin Throw F64
The face of Indian para sports dominated yet again, winning his third consecutive world title with a throw of 71.37m, also a championship record. Antil remains the reigning champion at the Paralympics, WPAC, and Asian Para Games.
🥇 Nishad Kumar – Men’s High Jump T47
Nishad cleared 2.14m to set a new Asian record, leaving behind US legend Roderick Townsend. Though he missed the world record at 2.18m, his gold was India’s biggest high-jump triumph on the global stage.
🥇 Simran Sharma – Women’s 100m T12
Running with her guide Umar Saifi, Simran became India’s first world champion sprinter. The 25-year-old, visually impaired since birth, improved her personal best twice in the tournament to clinch the title.
A Javelin Legacy Continues
India’s dominance in the javelin throw was evident, with three of six golds coming in the discipline. Inspired by Neeraj Chopra’s 2021 Olympic triumph, para athletes like Antil, Hooda, and Sargar are carrying forward India’s spear supremacy at the world level.
India’s Medal Tally at WPAC 2025
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Gold: 6
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Silver: 7
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Bronze: 9
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Total: 22 (Best-ever performance)
Voices of Pride
“I am feeling like the Indian Army today, like I have done something for my country,” said Simran Sharma, dedicating her historic sprint medal to the nation.
Sumit Antil summed up the spirit of the contingent: “Every medal we win is a step towards proving that Indian para athletes can rule the world.”
