NEW DELHI, 25 September 2025: The World Para Athletics Championships (WAPC) 2025 opened at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium today, with fanfare and giety. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya declared WPAC open with a message from Prime Minister Modi saying the games will usher India into a sports hub and motivate millions. More than 2200 participants from 104 nations will take part in WPAC ending Oct. 5.
Australia has a 51-strong squad for the games, second-biggest team Australia has sent to a World Para Athletics Championships and the largest team since the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, marking a major step forward in the momentum of Australian Para-athletics.
First impressions 🇮🇳🤝
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi is almost ready for action! Two sleeps to go.#AthleticsNation #NewDelhi2025 pic.twitter.com/eT4ak4pvdL
— Australian Athletics (@AustralianAths) September 25, 2025
The colourful opening ceremony was attended by Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State Raksha Khadse, Chief Minister of Delhi Rekha Gupta, and MP Kangana Ranaut, Delhi Education Minister, Ashish Sood, Mr Paul Fitzgerald, the head of World Para Athletics.
“For India, this world para athletics championships are about pride, progress, and purpose. We have assembled our largest-ever para contingent of 74 athletes, a testament to how deeply para-sports have taken root in the country. Champions such as Sumit Antil, Preethi Pal, Deepthi Jeevanji, Dharambir Nain, and Praveen Kumar will compete on home ground,” said Dr Mandaviya, who declared the WPAC open.
WATCH LIVE & FREE IN AUSTRALIA: The games taking place from Sept. 27 to Oct 5, 2025, can be seen live at via the Paralympic Games YouTube Channel.
