Latest news with #WorldPara-AthleticsChampionships
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First Post
11-08-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Mondo track at JLN Stadium to be ready in time for World Para-Athletics Championships, says PCI chief Devendra Jhajharia
Paralympic Committee of India president Devendra Jhajharia has set 1 September has the likely date for the Mondo tracks to be completed both at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue for the showpiece that takes place in India for the first time, as well as the training area. read more Paralympic Committee of India President Devendra Jhajharia insists preparations for the historic World Para-Athletics Championships in New Delhi are very much on time. PTI Preparations for the World Para Athletics Championships are going as per schedule with laying of Mondo tracks in both competition venue and training area set to be completed by September 1, Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) President Devendra Jhajharia said on Monday. India is hosting the global para athletics showpiece for the first time from September 27 to October 5 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, and the tracks at the main arena and adjacent training venue were relaid in view of the championships. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We have completed 95 per cent work of Mondo track laying inside main stadium as well as training area. Laying the base takes a lot of time, topping the base with Mondo does not take much time,' Jhajharia told PTI in an interview. 'Work on the base is completed, laying of Mondo on top has started. Everything will be completed by September 1,' he added. 'Preparations for other things like transportation and accommodation of athletes, their escorts and officials, and other logistics have been according to schedule. Our aim is to host a hugely successful championships in all aspects and strengthen India's bid for 2036 Olympics and Paralympics.' Asked how long will it take to procure certification from World Athletics for the track to be declared fit for top-class events, Jhajharia said, 'World Athletics experts will come as soon as laying of the track is completed. It should not take much time (to get the certification). 'There is a lot of time between September 1 and September 27. 'Having Mondo tracks both in competition and training area is a big thing. Our athletes – both able-bodied and para – will now be able to train and compete on Mondo tracks which is widely used now.' A celebrated para javelin thrower himself, with two gold and a silver in Paralympics, Jhajharia said the organisers have left no stone unturned to conduct a para friendly event of the highest order. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We have contracted the DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation), they will give us around 100 para-friendly buses. The buses will be para-friendly, the wheelchair person will go inside. 'At the JLN stadium, there will huge number of wheelchairs available. There will also be space earmarked to accommodate 500 wheelchairs at the stands. 'The biggest message will be that the championships is a para-friendly event. We are trying to provide the best facilities to the athletes, their escorts and officials.' New Delhi edition will see maximum number of countries taking part He claimed that the New Delhi edition will see the highest number of countries taking part in a World Para Athletics Championships. '107 countries have given us confirmation. So this is the highest ever in a World Para Athletics Championships in terms of number of countries taking part. All the top countries in para athletics like China, Brazil, Great Britain are taking part. 'In terms of total number of athletes, I am thinking that this will also be the highest but I cannot confirm now because Tuesday (August 12) is the deadline for sending entries to us. We have received entries from more than 75 per cent countries but the total number will be known only after the deadline.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the last edition in Kobe, Japan, 1073 para athletes from 103 countries participated in 2024. He said being the host country, India will also field its largest ever contingent. India sent around 40 para athletes in the last edition to Japan. 'Yes, absolutely, we will field our largest ever contingent. The final trial has been done and selection will be done very soon. The number of our athletes should be around 100.' Request sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open the championships Jhajharia said the PCI has written to PM Modi to grace the opening ceremony on September 27, and a response is awaited. 'We are hoping that the Honourable Prime Minister will open the championships. We have sent a request letter to him and we are waiting for his answer. 'PM Modi has been a great support for para sports and para athletes. His support and encouragement before, during and after major events like the Paralympics, Para Asian Games and World Championships have been a source of strength and motivation for para athletes.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India's prospects and training of para athletes The PCI president is expecting more number of medals from the Indian team than the last edition in Japan, where the country won 17 medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze). 'Our performance is getting better every Paralympics and World Championships. We will win more than 17 medals in Delhi. We are targeting a top-5 finish as against the sixth spot in Japan last year.' He also expects the likes of Sumit Antil (men's javelin F64) to defend the gold he had won in Japan. 'Our players are preparing well, in Delhi, Jaipur, Bangalore, Gandhinagar, Sonipat and even abroad. The government and the PCI have provided whatever is required for them. 'We want to give freedom to the athletes, so that they can give good results. We let them stay and train wherever they want. 'Sumit is currently training in Sonepat (SAI Centre) and we expect him to win gold in front of the home crowd. I am even hoping him to break the world record.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
News18
01-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
'Want Doctors To See How They Changed My Life': Sumit Antil Hopes To Invite Medics To Para Athletics C'ships
Sumit Antil feels the upcoming World Para-Athletics Championships in India will prove hugely beneficial to the local athletes. As a youngster, Sumit Antil wanted to pursue a career in wrestling and join the Indian Army. Unfortunately, in 2015, when he was just 17 years old, his bike was hit by a speeding truck. As a result, his left leg had to be amputated, and his dreams of becoming a wrestler came crashing down. A decade later, Sumit is a two-time Paralympic gold medallist javelin thrower, a two-time World Championships gold medallist and also a gold medallist at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games. In an interview facilitated by Sun Pharma, Sumit speaks to News18 Sports about his Paralympics performance, the upcoming World Para-Athletics Championships, his wish for an NC Classic-like event for para-athletics and more. Excerpts At the Paris Paralympics, you bagged a gold with a Paralympic record. What makes you improve your performance on the biggest stage? I have been a Paralympic champion twice now. In Tokyo, I was a new boy whom no one knew. So, there was no pressure on me at all. Even if I didn't perform, no one would bother that much. But before Paris, there was a lot of pressure. Numerous articles were saying that I am a frontrunner for gold. But we had prepared well, and there has been so much experience now, we can handle the body better. We know what changes come in our body when we are about to participate. Year-round, we practice so much, we just push ourselves to give our 100 per cent on the field on that day. Whenever an athlete has an injury, I think the doctors play the biggest role. I cannot read an MRI report, right? My injury wasn't very serious, but it wasn't a small one either. But the doctors kept saying that I can recover and it isn't serious. The way they motivate you at that time and let you know about future injury prevention plays a major role in our careers. The World Para-Athletics Championships is set to be held this year in Delhi. How excited are you for it, and do you think it will increase the viewership of para-sport in India? I would like to congratulate everyone involved since the World Championships is being held in India. Our junior athletes will be able to learn a lot of things from the world-class athletes who will come here. I would like to invite the doctors who have treated me to come and watch me play and see how they changed my life. You already have two gold medals in the World Championships. Does that make you confident enough, or do you believe in beginning from scratch? It is different to compete as a reigning champion. People look at you differently. But my team and I focus on our targets and perform accordingly. We try to give our best. If you give your best, you will get the gold, and I hope everyone believes in us. Neeraj Chopra is organising NC Classic. Would you someday like a para-javelin event to be held in India as well? Yes, we would like to discuss the prospects of holding an event for para-javelin as well. Not just javelin, I would like to see a full-fledged athletics competition being held in India. This is a very good initiative by Neeraj bhai. India is hosting an A-class tournament for the first time. I am excited to see how the foreign athletes, for whom people travel to other nations to watch them play, will perform in India. Our young athletes will learn a lot from this experience. I would like to congratulate them on such an initiative. I would like to take such an initiative as well in the future. What made you join the #SecondBirthDate initiative from Sun Pharma? First of all, I would like to congratulate Sun Pharma that they have started such a good initiative for the doctors who play a major role in our lives. This is an opportunity to thank our doctors on their special day. When I found out about this campaign, I felt very connected because I, too, have been born again after an accident. This year, Sumit has joined Sun Pharma's #SecondBirthDate initiative. He considers 26/05/2015 his #SecondBirthDate and has joined the movement to express heartfelt gratitude to the real-life heroes, doctors, who give us a second chance at life. In 2023, cricketer Rishabh Pant also joined Sun Pharma's #SecondBirthDate initiative to pay tribute to the doctors who helped him recover from a serious car accident on December 30, 2022. News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : athletics Neeraj Chopra Sumit Antil World Para Athletics Championships Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 01, 2025, 11:48 IST
