Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sept 27: The opening morning session of the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships set an electrifying tone for the event, with the Netherlands topping the medal tally by clinching two gold medals. Poland followed closely with two medals—one gold and one bronze—while China, Colombia, Japan, and the UAE also made their mark with one gold each.

Among the standout performances was China’s Wen Xiaoyan, who once again demonstrated her world-class form by securing gold in the Women’s Long Jump T37 Final. She leapt to 5.32 meters in her fifth attempt, adding yet another feather to her decorated career.

Japan’s Kenya Karasawa delivered a surprise victory in the Men’s 5000m T11 final, clocking 15:23.38 to outpace reigning Paralympics gold medallist Yeltsin Jacques of Brazil. This win marked Japan’s first gold of the tournament and showcased Karasawa’s endurance and strategy on the track.

For India, the biggest moment of the morning came with Deepthi Jeevanji’s qualification into the finals of the Women’s 400m T20 event. She topped her heat and is now in strong contention to bring home India’s first medal of the Championships during the evening session.

A historic moment was also recorded in the Women’s 100m T71, where Thekra Alkaabi of the UAE shattered both the World and Asian Records with a time of 19.89 seconds, underlining the global caliber of the competition.

Held at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships are running from September 27 to October 5, featuring over 2,200 para-athletes from 104 countries. With 186 medal events, it is the largest Para-Athletics meet ever hosted in India and doubles as a crucial qualifying event for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. More than just a sporting showcase, the championships signal India’s rising commitment to inclusive excellence and global sports leadership.