Parul Singh Leads National Push Ahead of 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi

With less than 3 months to go, the Delhi Paralympic Committee President calls for nationwide support and infrastructure reform to uplift para-sports in India

New Delhi | July 7, 2025

As India gears up to host the 12th World Para Athletics Championships from September 27 to October 5 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Parul Singh, President of the Delhi State Paralympic Committee, is leading a nationwide campaign to ensure the event’s success and legacy.

Recently, Singh met Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in New Delhi as part of her outreach to state governments. She gifted him a traditional painting of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita, symbolizing cultural unity and collective strength. The meeting also included discussions on promoting para-sports and encouraging wider state-level participation.

“This championship isn’t just about global recognition,” said Singh, “It’s about building a lasting ecosystem for para-sports in India.”

With over 1,000 athletes from 100+ countries expected to compete in 186 medal events, the Championships are poised to be the largest para-sports event ever held in India. The initiative builds on Delhi’s recent success in hosting the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in March, which welcomed 283 athletes from 20 nations. Singh played a key role in organizing that event, ensuring accessibility and smooth stakeholder coordination.

On June 20, the official campaign for the Championships was launched, unveiling “Viraaj”, the event’s mascot—a prosthetic-blade-wearing elephant symbolizing resilience and strength. The event saw the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, MP Kangana Ranaut, and World Para Athletics Head Paul Fitzgerald.

Singh has consistently called for systemic change in how para-sports are treated in India.

“In a country of over 1.4 billion people, para-athletes still struggle for visibility and support. This event is our opportunity to change that,” she emphasized.

Her outreach to state leaders like Soren is part of a larger strategy to ensure awareness, athlete scouting, and resource mobilization—all essential to India’s future sporting ambitions, including a potential bid for the 2036 Olympics and Paralympics.

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India’s medal hopefuls include Praveen Kumar (High Jump T64) and Navdeep Singh (Javelin F41), both of whom won medals at the 2024 Championships in Kobe, where India earned a total of 17 medals, including six golds.

Corporate sponsorship is also gaining momentum, with support from Indian Oil and other partners. Singh now turns her attention to ensuring the city’s preparedness—from transportation and accessibility to volunteer management and media coordination.

With the clock ticking, Parul Singh’s leadership remains at the heart of India’s para-sports movement—transforming the upcoming Championships into not just a historic event, but a launchpad for inclusion, awareness, and long-term change for millions of Indians with disabilities.

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