India set to host World Para Athletics Championships next year: Reports
In a recent development for Indian para-sports, India is gearing up to host the World Para Athletics Championships for the first time, as per The Times of India. This marks a significant milestone in the country's journey in international para-athletics.
The Paralympics Committee of India (PCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with World Para Athletics, an arm of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), to organize the prestigious event.
The Championship will reportedly be held at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium and is likely to be scheduled in November next year. The upcoming World Para Athletics Championships is one of the largest and most prominent competitions as far as para sports are concerned.
The event is expected to draw participants from over 100 nations to India. Hosting an event of this magnitude adds to the nation's growing image as a host for global para-sports events and comes as a significant boost in the international para-sports arena.
Hosting this championship is expected to cost around Rs 40 to 50 crore, which includes a substantial renovation of the JLN Stadium to ensure it meets the technical standards set by World Para Athletics.
Preparations underway for major venue renovation
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is expected to undergo a six-month renovation in order to accommodate the specific requirements of the World Para Athletics Championships.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has already awarded contracts for the upgrade of the venue, with plans to install new synthetic tracks that meet the standards mandated by the International Paralympic Committee.
As per PCI, a no-objection certificate (NOC) has been requested from the Indian government, and the guarantee fee for hosting the event has already been paid to World Para Athletics.
"This will be the biggest sporting event in India for para players. It will be huge for them. More than 1,000 para athletes from the world will come here to showcase their talent. Last year, we hosted the Para Shooting World Cup in New Delhi and it was a huge success," a PCI official was quoted as saying, as reported by The Times of India.
As hosts, India is also expected to go in with a large contingent, which will allow the nation's top para-athletes to compete in this mega event.
India's para-athletes have been making remarkable progress on the international stage, as demonstrated by the country’s outstanding performance at the last World Para Athletics Championships held in Kobe, Japan, in 2024.
Team India secured an impressive 17 medals, including six gold, five silver, and six bronze, placing them sixth in the overall medal standings, their best showing to date in the championships.