Sailesh Kumar wins India's first gold at World Para Athletics Championships 2025; Deepthi Jeevanji bags silver

India won three medals on opening day at World Para Athletics Championships 2025.

India began its medal hunt on a high note at the World Para Athletics Championships 2025, with Sailesh Kumar clinching the nation’s first gold on the opening day in New Delhi on September 27, Saturday.

The 25-year-old from Bihar cleared the height of 1.91m which not only earned him the gold in the Men’s High Jump but also set a new Championship and Asian record and his personal best.

The Asian Para Games gold medallist represented India at the 2024 Paris Paralympics also but he finished fourth. Last time at the World Championships held in 2023 in Paris, Sailesh had to settle for silver.

India’s dominance in the event was further carried by Varun Singh Bhati, who clinched the bronze medal with a clearance of 1.85m, ensuring a double podium finish for the nation.

The former Para Asian Games medallist was tied with reigning Paralympic champion Ezra Frech of the USA. However, Frech edged Bhati to grab silver with 1.85m.

Also from India was Rahul in the event, however, he finished fourth with a personal best jump of 1.78m.

The day saw stellar performances from India’s track athletes as well. Deepthi Jeevanji bagged silver in the Women’s 400m T20 final, clocking 55.16s to finish just behind Turkey’s Aysel Onder, who set a new world record of 54.51s.

Also Read: India at World Para Athletics Championships 2025: Schedule, results, live streaming details

Deepthi had previously made history at Paris 2024 as the first intellectually impaired Indian athlete to win a Paralympic medal, securing bronze in the same event with a time of 55.82s.

India’s sprint contingent also made its mark. In the Men’s 100m T37 Round 1, Rakeshbhai Bhatt finished third in Heat 1 with a time of 11.62s, qualifying for the final, while Shreyansh Trivedi finished second in Heat 3 with 11.94s, also securing his spot in the final.

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