Delhi gears up to host India’s biggest para-sports event; over 100 nations to participate
New Delhi: With just under three months to go before the 12th World Para Athletics Championships begin in Delhi, Parul Singh, President of the Delhi State Paralympic Committee, is spearheading a nationwide campaign to generate inter-state support and awareness for the landmark event. The Championships will be held from September 27 to October 5 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and are expected to host over 1,000 athletes from more than 100 countries.
In a key outreach effort, Singh met with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in New Delhi, presenting him with a traditional painting of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita to emphasize cultural unity. Their discussion centered on boosting para-sports awareness, improving state-level participation, and building long-term infrastructure to support athletes with disabilities.
“This championship is an opportunity not just for global recognition, but to build a long-term ecosystem for para-sports in India,” Singh told reporters. Her push comes on the heels of Delhi’s successful hosting of the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in March, where Singh played a pivotal role in ensuring accessibility and stakeholder coordination.
On June 20, Singh joined Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and MP Kangana Ranaut at the official mascot launch for the Championships. The mascot, “Viraaj”—an elephant with a blade prosthesis—symbolizes resilience and hope. The event was also attended by Paul Fitzgerald, Head of World Para Athletics.
Singh, who has long advocated for structural reform in Indian para-sports, emphasized that the Championships present a rare moment to change the national narrative. “In a country of over 1.4 billion, para-athletes are still overlooked. This Championship is a chance to change that,” she said.
India’s para-athletic contingent is expected to feature top performers like Praveen Kumar (High Jump T64) and Navdeep Singh (Javelin F41), who won medals at the 2024 Championships in Kobe, Japan. India secured 17 medals in that event, including six golds.
Corporate sponsorships are already flowing in, with Indian Oil among the major backers. Meanwhile, Singh remains focused on critical logistical aspects—transportation, volunteer coordination, accommodation, and media operations.
Her continued engagement with state leaders is not just about one event, but part of a broader mission tied to India’s aspirations of hosting the 2036 Olympics and Paralympics. For Singh, the upcoming Championships are both a milestone and a catalyst for lasting change in India’s sporting landscape.
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