The Horizon Beyond the Finish Line

I stood in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium earlier this week, feeling the palpable sense of history. The New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships are not just a competition; they are, quite simply, the largest Para sport event ever held in India. Featuring over 1,000 athletes from around the globe, the scale alone is a national achievement. Even as the final, dramatic days of competition rush toward the climax on October 5th, the energy within the city is infectious.

The cheers I heard earlier this week, the sheer focus and intensity of the competition, felt profoundly different from anything I’ve experienced before. It brought me back to my time as India’s first and youngest Deputy Chef De Mission at the Tokyo 2020 Games. My job then was one of constant advocacy—a fight to ensure our athletes were seen, heard, and respected on the global stage. It was a struggle for visibility, waged on foreign soil.

Here, in New Delhi, the fight feels over. The battle for recognition has been won by the sheer, undeniable reality of the championships themselves. As we await the final results, the nation holds its breath, anticipating a triumphant final medal tally. Yet, the true significance of this event, I believe, will never be captured in that final count. The real victory lies beyond the finish line, in the intangible legacy being forged in the stands, in the media rooms, and, most importantly, in the imaginations of an entire generation. This event is not just about recording athletic achievements; it is about permanently shifting the horizon of what India believes is possible.

The first and most tangible ‘win’ is the infrastructure and operational legacy. Hosting an event of this magnitude demands world-class facilities and attention to detail. This global spotlight necessitated upgrades to facilities that will serve our athletes for years to come. It’s an investment in permanent foundations for the future of Indian Para sport. We’re not just looking at temporary fixes; we’re witnessing a necessary, long-overdue commitment to modern, accessible sports venues.

Beyond the physical upgrades, think of the knowledge gained. Thousands of Indian organizers, volunteers, and support staff are now steeped in the logistics of executing a world-class, global championship. They have learned best practices in logistics, accessibility planning, and event management. That acquired expertise is an invaluable, sustained investment in the nation’s capacity to host future events and, crucially, to integrate accessibility into all facets of public life. This knowledge base is now a national asset, ensuring that the commitment to accessibility is not just a gesture, but a standard operating procedure.

The deeper, more revolutionary win of New Delhi 2025 is occurring in the public perception of disability and athletic excellence. This event has brought about a seismic shift in the cultural landscape. The energy I observed in the stadium at the start was one of pure, unadulterated admiration.

The cheers heard across the grounds are not born of sympathy; they are cheers of recognition—recognition of fierce skill, competitive spirit, and tireless discipline. Current projections suggest India is poised to win more than 20 medals, potentially settling between 21 and 22. This projection marks a powerful testament to the nation’s rising status and amplifies the anticipation for a truly triumphant final day.

The media coverage focuses entirely on the athletes’ athletic excellence and achievement. This is the quiet, cultural revolution that a home championship truly delivers. It shifts the national gaze from viewing Para athletes through a lens of charity to one of respect and admiration. As we look toward the final day and the final medal presentation, this cultural shift represents the greatest, most enduring gold medal we could hope to win. The audience is engaging with the athletes as skilled professionals, which is the ultimate victory in changing hearts and minds.

Perhaps the most precious outcome of this ongoing championship lies in the seed planted across the country. This is the inspirational legacy—the potential that is being unlocked not just for the athletes competing, but for the millions watching at home.

Every young person, with or without a disability, who is tuning in to watch these champions, is seeing a vivid, compelling path forward. They are seeing what is possible, often for the very first time on such a grand, home-grown stage. As someone who has worked for years as an ambassador and through initiatives like LetsEnable.com, I understand that representation is the most powerful tool for change. Watching a global event unfold in your own city replaces the hesitant question mark of ‘Can I?’ with the firm, confident exclamation point of ‘I can!’

This championship transforms the idea of disability from a private challenge into a public, celebrated display of human excellence. It is the moment where the potential of India’s youth is illuminated by the spotlight of the world stage.

My journey—from advocating for our team abroad to witnessing this home-grown revolution—confirms a profound and lasting change. The true horizon revealed by the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships is a future where Para sports are fully integrated into the national sporting consciousness, where accessibility is normalized, and where an athlete’s potential is the only story that matters.

As the championships move towards their close on October 5th, the real work for the nation has just begun. The final whistle will blow, and the stadium will empty, but the true finish line of this championship is just the starting line for a new era of Indian Para sports. We have secured not just a temporary place on the world sporting map, but a permanent space in the hearts and minds of the nation. We have built a home for champions, and in doing so, we have secured a hopeful future for every aspiring athlete. The quiet confidence now settles: the revolution has begun.

 About the Author

 Arhan Bagati is a youth leader from Kashmir and the founder of KYARI, a non-profit organization addressing critical issues in the region. He is also the Awareness and Impact Ambassador for the Paralympic Committee of India and is currently pursuing a Master in Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. His commitment to social change was recently acknowledged when he was named a Hindustan Times “30 Under 30 – Social Impact Leader”. He was also conferred with the prestigious ET Indo Global Leaders Award for “Excellence in Social Impact” for his impactful work through KYARI. Additionally, he has co-produced the movie Ground Zero.