Key Highlights
- From 11‑13 March 2026, New Delhi will stage the second edition of the World Para Athletics Grand Prix.
- Approximately 257 para‑athletes from eight nations will compete, with India fielding the biggest squad of roughly 219 participants.
- Seventy‑four international classification slots (39 physical, 29 visual, 6 intellectual) will be on offer, enabling athletes to secure or confirm their eligibility.
- Prominent Indian Paralympians such as Mariyappan Thangavelu, Sumit Antil and Praveen Kumar will headline the meet.
- The inaugural 2025 Grand Prix saw India top the medal table with 134 medals, underscoring the nation’s rapid para‑sport development.
Detailed Insights
The three‑day competition will bring together competitors from India, Russia, Nepal, Bhutan, Hong Kong, Serbia, Bosnia and Egypt. While the host nation supplies the overwhelming majority of entrants, the diverse field illustrates the growing global appetite for para‑athletics events hosted on Indian soil. Athletes will contest a range of track and field disciplines across multiple classification categories, ensuring that both sprint specialists and field event performers have the opportunity to showcase elite performances.
Classification—an essential mechanism that groups athletes by the nature and extent of impairment—will be a focal point of the Grand Prix. The 74 slots allocated for international classification are split among three impairment groups, providing a transparent pathway for athletes aspiring to compete at World Championships and the Paralympic Games.
Indian para‑athletes are entering the meet with heightened expectations, following a stellar debut in 2025 when the host nation secured 45 gold medals, 40 silver and 49 bronze. The presence of decorated Paralympians such as Mariyappan Thangavelu (high‑jump gold, Rio 2016), Sumit Antil (javelin world record holder), and Praveen Kumar (track gold medallist) adds both prestige and competitive intensity. Emerging talents including Ajeet Singh, Devendra Singh Gurjar, Ankur Dhama, T12 sprinter Simran and double‑bronze medallist Preeti Pal will also vie for podium positions.
Key Concepts
- Para‑Athletics Classification: A systematic process that evaluates athletes' impairments and assigns them to sport classes to ensure fair competition.
- International Classification Slot: An official opportunity for athletes to receive globally recognised classification status, often required for entry into major championships.
- Medal Tally Dominance: The quantitative ranking of nations based on the number of gold, silver and bronze medals won during a competition.
- Multi‑Disability Event: A sporting meet that includes participants with physical, visual, and intellectual impairments across separate categories.