Top 10 Indian para-athletes to watch at World Para Athletics Championships 2025

Sumil Antil and Preethi Pal will be one of India’s medal favourites in the World Para Athletics championships 2025.

For the first time in the competition’s history, India will host the World Para Athletics Championships, with the event scheduled to be held in New Delhi from September 27 to October 5.

While India hosting the event is history in itself, the para-athletes will hope to add cherry on top by bagging a record medal haul in the home edition of the championships.

In the previous edition in Japan, India returned with 17 medals—the country’s best-ever performance at the event. And with several medalists from that edition, along with Paralympic medal winners, set to be in action, India will be eyeing at least 20 medals on home turf.

On that note, let’s look at the top 10 Indian para-athletes to watch out for at the World Para Athletics Championships 2025.

10. Nishad Kumar

Nishad Kumar, a two-time silver medalist at both World and Paralympics, will be aiming to become the world champion. He competes in the Men’s High Jump T47 category. Nishad will be looking for his fourth worlds medal. Standing in his way for the title will be Roderick Townsend.

9. Deepthi Jeevanji

Defending champion Deepthi Jeevanji will be looking to defend her crown in the 400m T20 category. She won bronze in the Paralympics, and now, competing at home, she will be looking to win her second world medal and aim to successfully retain her title.

8. Ajeet Singh

Ajeet Singh, the 2023 World Champion, will be aiming to get his crown back in men’s Javelin Throw F46 category. The 32-year-old won bronze in the last edition and silver in the 2024 Paralympics. He has won three medals in the World Para Championships and will be looking to win his fourth medal.

7. Praveen Kumar

Praveen Kumar created history at the 2024 Paris Paralympics with his gold medal in the high jump T64 category by smashing the area record as well. He will be looking to win his first worlds medal and will be aiming for gold after a disappointing performance in the last World Championships.

6. Dharambir Nain

Dharambir Nain, reigning Paralympic champion in the Club Throw F51 category, will aim to better his bronze medal performance from 2024 world championships and achieve the rare feat of holding both the world and Paralympic gold in his event.

The 36-year-old is coached by fellow para-athlete Amit Sheoran, who played a pivotal role in shaping his career.

5. Sachin Khilari

Sachin Khilari, a two-time world champion, will be looking to complete a hat-trick of gold medals at the 2025 World Championships. Sachin competes in the Shotput F46 category. He missed the gold at the Paris Paralympics by a whisker.

He will eye redemption and script history at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.

4. Navdeep Singh

Navdeep Singh, who made headlines with his gold in men’s javelin throw F41 category at Paris Paralympics, will aim to crown himself the World Champion. Navdeep won bronze in the 2024 edition and will hope to upgrade the colour of his medal on home turf.

3. Simran Sharma

Defending champion, Simran Sharma, will be keen to defend her title in the 200m T12 category. Simran also won bronze in the 200m T12 category in the Paris Paralympics and silver in both 100m and 200m in the same category at the Asian Para Games.

One of India’s most decorated female para-athletes, she will once again aim to make the nation proud.

2. Preethi Pal

The first Indian track medalist in Paralympics history, Preethi Pal, will be eyeing another double at the World Championships. She won bronze at the 2024 edition in both 100m and 200m T35 category.

Preethi then also won bronze at the Paralympics in the same category and will be one of the medal favourites in the 2025 edition as well. She is also the flagbearer for the Indian contingent in the opening ceremony.

1. Sumit Antil

For World Record holder Sumit Antil, a 75m throw will matter more than a medal. The two-time defending World and Paralympic champion is an outright favourite in the men’s javelin throw F64 category.

Antil, who holds the world record at 73.29m that he achieved in 2023, will hope to breach the 75m mark and set a new standard in para men’s javelin throw.

Beyond the top names, other Indian para-athletes to watch are Yogesh Kathuniya, Somnath Rana, Bhavanaben Ajabaji Chaudhary, Ekta Bhyan, and many more.

These athletes have been consistently performing well for the nation and are role models for everyone, not just in para sports but in the whole sporting and non-sporting fraternity worldwide.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram