Shailesh Kumar won India’s first gold medal at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, clearing a personal best and new Asian and Championship record of 1.91m in the men’s T42/64 high jump.
He finished ahead of reigning Paralympic champion USA’s Ezra Frech, who won silver, while fellow Indian Varun Singh Bhati earned bronze with 1.85m. The 25-year-old’s victory has been hailed nationwide, highlighting his inspiring journey and India’s growing strength in para-sports.
Shailesh Kumar’s Historic Gold and Record-Breaking Performance
On a humid September day at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shailesh Kumar soared to a new personal best of 1.91m, smashing both the Championship and Asian records in the men’s high jump T42/64 category. Competing against top athletes including USA’s Paralympic champion Ezra Frech, who took silver with a 1.85m jump, Kumar’s immense focus and training paid off on home soil.
Fellow Indian Varun Singh Bhati clinched bronze with 1.85m on countback. Kumar, originally from Islamnagar village in Bihar, credited acclimatisation to Delhi’s heat after months of training in Bengaluru. His rise has inspired many differently-abled athletes across India, demonstrating the heights that determination can achieve.
Bihar Chief Minister’s Reward Highlights Commitment to Sports
Shailesh Kumar’s record-breaking gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships 2025 has earned him widespread praise across India. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar lauded Shailesh’s historic victory as a “moment of pride not only for Bihar but the entire nation.”
Taking to social media, he announced a generous cash reward of Rs 75 lakh under the State Sports Award Scheme, alongside a citation to honour the athlete’s remarkable achievement.
Overcoming Challenges: Shailesh Kumar’s Path to Glory
Shailesh lost his right leg to polio as a child, but his love for sports and relentless spirit propelled him into para-athletics. Early in school, he competed with able-bodied athletes, before focusing on para events after learning about classifications at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
His breakthrough came with a Junior World title in 2019, followed by silver at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships and gold at the 2023 Asian Para Games. Despite a narrow miss at the 2024 Paris Paralympics where he finished fourth, this gold medal win marks a career milestone and fuels his ambition to break the 1.96m world record, aiming for the 2028 Paralympics.
The Logical Indian’s View: Celebrating Resilience and Inclusivity
Shailesh Kumar’s achievement is a testament to the power of perseverance and the growing recognition of para-sports in India. His journey encourages society to embrace differently-abled athletes with empathy and pride while advocating for inclusive sporting opportunities. The Logical Indian celebrates his success as a beacon of hope and determination.
