Stage is set for the colourful and spectacular opening ceremony of IndianOil World Para Athletics Championships 2025 at JLN Stadium, New Delhi

Rakesh Thapliyal

New Delhi: The Stage is set for the colourful opening ceremony of one of the most spectacular sporting event, the IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, scheduled to be held at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday.

Last minutes preparations were in full swing on wednessday evening as the host Paralympics Committee of India’s workforce working hard round the clock to successfully organize the opening Ceremony and the Athletic events.

In the evening the reharsal for the march past was done with perfection. All the Artists were present to have the feel of the Stadium.

The newly laid Mondo Track is ready to welcome top athletes of the Para World. This Mondo track was inaugurated on August 29, 2025. The track will host some of the world’s finest para-athletes from over 100 countries during the championships. There will be a total of 73 para-athletes vying for the top spot, from the host nation.

This championships marks a new chapter in India’s ability to stage global competitions of such scale, further strengthening the nation’s position as a hub for international sports.

This milestone event, taking place from September 27 to October 5, 2025, will see over 2,200 para-athletes and support staff from 104 countries converging to compete across 186 medal events—the grandest para-sport gathering ever hosted in India.it is the largest Para-Athletics meet in Indian history and serves as a key qualifier for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics, showcasing India’s commitment to accessibility and sporting excellence.

Dr. Mansukh L. Mandaviya, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports will be the Chief Guest of opening Ceremony, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Smt. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister, Government of Delhi, Shri Ashish Sood, Education Minister, Government of Delhi and Paul Fitzgerald, Head of World Para Athletics will be present as Guests of Honour.

Noted actress, Ms. Kangana Ranaut, MP, Brand Ambassador – IndianOil New Delhi 2025 WPA Championships will grace the opening Ceremony as Guest of Eminence.

On Tuesday, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya along with Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports have visited the JLN Stadium to oversee final preparations for the marquee event.

On Wednesday evening  Journalists and photographers were present in Large number at JLN Stadium to collect their accreditation cards. They were forced to wait around one hour before accreditation cards were handed over to them.