India’s Para stars bring home historic 22 medals
India’s para athletes put on a spectacular display at the World Para Athletics Championships, finishing with a record 22 medals, including six golds, nine silvers, and seven bronzes, on a hot and humid Sunday. Among the standout performers were Simran Sharma, Preethi Pal, and Navdeep Singh, who each claimed silver, highlighting the depth and resilience of India’s squad.
The day was filled with drama, determination, and strong performances. India finished 6th on the medals table, marking its best-ever showing at the championships. While expectations were high, athletes like Navdeep Singh and high jumper Praveen Kumar fell just short of gold, but the overall medal haul was historic for the country.
Simran Sharma adds another silver
Simran Sharma, the 25-year-old sprinter from Uttar Pradesh, overcame exhaustion and a stiff back to claim silver in the women’s 200m T12 event. This came just two days after she had clinched gold in the 100m T12 with an Asian record of 24.46 seconds. Running with a sighted guide due to significant visual impairment, Simran initially finished third but was upgraded to silver after Venezuela’s Alejandra Perez Lopez was disqualified under World Para Athletics rules concerning tether infractions between athletes and guides.
“It feels incredible to win two medals in front of a home crowd. Breaking the Asian record makes it even more special,” said Simran. Her guide runner Umar Saifi stood proudly alongside her. Simran now has three World Para Athletics medals to her name and is already eyeing three golds at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan. She also plans to try her hand at long jump, having recently cleared 5.42m in practice.
Preethi Pal: Silver ‘twice over’
The day also brought a dramatic moment for Preethi Pal, the 25-year-old T35 sprinter, when a starter pistol malfunction forced a race rerun in the women’s 100m. After initially finishing second, draped in the tricolour, Preethi was asked to race again nearly two hours later. Despite fatigue and low motivation, she returned to the track and finished with a season’s best 14.33 seconds, just behind China’s Guo Qianqian (14.24 seconds).
“It was tough to come back and race again. I felt very low, but my coach and physio prepared me, and I gave it my best,” she said. Preethi also won bronze in the 200m T35, making it another memorable championship for the double Paris Paralympics bronze medallist.
Navdeep Singh settles for silver in Javelin
In the men’s F41 javelin, Paris Paralympics gold medallist Navdeep Singh narrowly missed out on gold, throwing a season-best 45.46m, while Iran’s Sadegh Beit Sayah took gold with 48.86m. Navdeep’s performance, though below his highest expectations, showcased his skill and determination against strong international competition.
Other highlights and medal tally
Men’s 200m T44 athlete Sandeep grabbed bronze with a personal best of 23.60 seconds, adding another reason to celebrate India’s efforts. Meanwhile, Brazil topped the medal table with 44 medals, followed by China with 52, and Iran in third place.
A last-minute update from the Jury of Appeal awarded Brazilian Paulino dos Santos Thiago silver in the men’s shot put F57, confirming India’s Soman Rana remained with bronze.
Despite finishing 6th on the table, India’s athletes showed remarkable resilience, mental strength, and fighting spirit. With young talents like Simran, Preethi, and Navdeep leading the way, India’s para athletics scene is poised for an even brighter future.