Top five Indian para athletes to watch out for in 2025

Indian para athletes will aim to make an even bigger impact this year.

Last year was memorable for Indian para athletes, who put on a dominating show at the Paris Paralympics. The para-athletes achieved a top-20 finish in the overall medals tally at the quadrennial games, owing to a combined 29 medals, which included 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze medals.

Building on their remarkable 2024 season, these Indian para-athletes and rising talents will aim to make an even greater impact in 2025 as they are set to represent the country at top international events including the World Para Athletics Championships, WSPS World Cup circuit, and other competitions.

Also Read: Top 10 Indian moments from Paris Paralympics 2024

With this, let’s take a look at the top five Indian para-athletes to watch out for in 2025:

Sheetal Devi

Sheetal Devi is currently one of the most promising para-athletes in India. The armless archer was brilliant on her debut Paralympics in Paris, impressing the world with her accurate shooting. She won a bronze medal in the mixed compound team event during the Quadrangular Games.

Having already impressed the fans despite being just 18, she will look to continue her run in the 2025 season. Besides being a Paralympic medalist, the youngster is a two-time Asian Para Games champion and collected the silver at the World Championships 2023.

Praveen Kumar

At the Paris Paralympics 2024, Praveen Kumar made a significant contribution to India’s successful campaign at the Games by winning the gold medal in the men’s high jump T64 event. Clearing 2.08m in Paris, the Tokyo Paralympics silver medalist not only broke the Asian record but also helped in surpassing India’s previous gold-medal count, achieved in Tokyo.

He received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for contribution to para-athletics. With the World Para Athletics Championships being held in New Delhi in 2025, the 21-year-old is expected to impress during the event and other international competitions set for the year.

Also Read: Top five incidents that shocked Indian sports in 2024

Harvinder Singh

Harvinder Singh gave Indian archery fans moments to rejoice during the Paris Paralympics 2024, following an underwhelming performance at the 2024 Olympics. Apart from Dhiraj Bommadevara’s contributions, just when Indian recurve archery looked on the verge of crumbling, the 33-year-old showed his remarkable skills at the Paralympic Games.

He achieved something no Indian had ever dreamed of by winning the Paralympic gold medal in men’s recurve individual archery with a remarkable performance from start to finish. Singh is one of the athletes to look out for in 2025.

Avani Lekhara

At just 23, Avani Lekhara has been one of the most prolific para-shooters in the country. The Jaipur-born shooter has back-to-back gold medals at the Paralympic Games in the same discipline, owing to her top-podium finishes in the 10m air rifle SH1 in Tokyo and Paris.

Known for being a two-time Para World Cup medalist, Lekhara will aim to achieve more medal-winning performances in the 2025 season.

Sumit Antil

Similar to Mondo Duplantis, who typically enters a pole vault event, breaks his world record, and wins the gold medal, Sumit Antil is renowned for his dominance in the men’s F64 para javelin throw, having broken his world record on multiple occasions. Antil, who originally aspired to become a wrestler, had his journey put on hold due to a motorbike accident. 

However, he didn’t let this affect him and has since become one of the most dominant names in para-field events. As India hosts the World Para Athletics Championships this year, he is perhaps the biggest name to look out for during the prestigious competition.

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