The 25-year-old Shailesh Kumar from Jamui, Bihar, won India’s first gold at the World Para Athletics Championships 2025 at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday. He soared to victory with a Championship Record jump of 1.91m in the Men’s High Jump T63 final. This was his personal best, surpassing his previous 1.86m jump in the T42 category. In para athletics, T42 athletes are eligible to compete in the T63 event.

USA’s Ezra Frech, the reigning Paralympics champion, claimed silver with a season-best 1.85m, while India’s Varun Singh Bhati, former Paralympics bronze medallist, took bronze on countback after clearing 1.85m as well.

Shailesh Credits Home Advantage

Shailesh said, “There was nothing special, but the first special thing was that it was a home ground, so I felt good. The atmosphere was good here, I was getting support from the home ground.”

He added that Delhi’s weather, familiar Indian food, and training in local conditions gave him an edge. “It was a little hot in Delhi, we were training in Bangalore for 6-7 months. It was a little cold there, but we came here 10 days ago so that our bodies could adapt. So it was good, I won the gold medal.”

Shailesh, who narrowly missed a bronze at the Paris Paralympics, clearly benefited from competing on home soil. However, he noted that the support from spectators was limited, as many stands remained empty.

Sparse Crowd Dampens Celebration

Despite the historic moment, the 60,000-seater JLN Stadium was largely empty. Few fans were aware of the event, though the government had promoted it through newspapers, radio, and official statements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the event’s significance, stating, “By breaking barriers and setting new benchmarks, para athletes have played a vital role in strengthening India’s identity as a rising sporting hub, motivating millions to embrace sports as a way of life.”

While infrastructure was top-notch, with upgraded stadium access and two Mondo tracks costing Rs 50 crore, promotion could have been stronger to attract larger crowds. On day one, only about 500–700 spectators were present, mostly family, coaches, and officials.

Varun Singh Bhati Ends Medal Drought

Varun Singh Bhati, 30, ended his medal drought with a bronze in the Men’s High Jump T63. He said, “It was very difficult. To be honest, I have not slept well for the last 7-8 years, but I will get a sound sleep after many years. I guess this is the bottom of the mountain. When you scale a mountain, the top of the mountain is the bottom of another mountain.”

He reflected on his struggles with injuries and mental challenges since 2018 but noted that his full fitness this year contributed to his performance.

Deepthi Jeevanji Adds Silver

The third medal for India came from Deepthi Jeevanji, who claimed silver in the Women’s 400m T20, giving the country a strong start with three medals on the first day.

With a record 74-member Indian contingent competing until 5 October, India hopes to surpass its previous best of 17 medals at the Kobe Games 2024.

A Message From the Gold Medallist

Shailesh urged fans to support the para athletes: “The more the crowd, the better the performance. I want you to support the para games so that our para athletes win medals.”