Historic Haul at World Para Athletics Championships 2025
India has marked a significant milestone in its sporting history by achieving its best-ever performance at the World Para Athletics Championships 2025, held in New Delhi from September 27 to October 5. The Indian contingent clinched an unprecedented 22 medals, comprising 6 gold, 9 silver, and 7 bronze, securing the 10th position in the overall medal standings. This remarkable achievement surpasses India's previous best of 17 medals from the 2024 edition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the para-athletes for their "historic performance," emphasizing that their success would inspire many.
Star performers included javelin thrower Sumit Antil, who set a new F64 category championship record with a throw of 71.37 meters. Simran Sharma shone brightly, winning gold in the women's 100m T12 event with a new Asian record and a silver in the 200m T12 race. Other gold medalists for India included Nishad Kumar (high jump T47), Sandip Sanjay Sargar (men's javelin throw F41), Rinku Hooda, and Shailesh Kumar (men's high jump T42).
Cricket Highlights: Women's World Cup Victory, ODI Captaincy Shift, and Test Series Dominance
Women's World Cup 2025
The Indian women's cricket team registered a commanding 88-run victory against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Women's World Cup 2025 match played in Colombo. Following the match, Pakistan's Sidra Amin was reprimanded by the ICC for a code of conduct breach. In other Women's World Cup action, South Africa defeated New Zealand by six wickets in Indore, with Tazmin Brits scoring an impressive 101 runs.
Men's ODI Captaincy Change
In a significant development for Indian men's cricket, Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new One Day International (ODI) captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will remain part of the ODI squad, their roles are reportedly being re-evaluated with an eye on the 2027 World Cup. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar commented on this decision, suggesting it's a clear indication that Gill is being groomed as India's all-format captain.
India vs West Indies Test Series
India asserted its dominance in the first Test against West Indies, securing a decisive victory by an innings and 140 runs in Ahmedabad. Following the match, Sunil Gavaskar expressed strong criticism of the West Indies bowling attack, likening them to "net bowlers" and highlighting a perceived decline in their quality compared to past legends.
Ranji Trophy Preparations and Player Movements
Preparations for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season are gaining momentum. Prithvi Shaw is set to play a three-day practice match against his former team, Mumbai, as part of Maharashtra's squad. Mumbai will be led by Shardul Thakur, with Shreyas Iyer absent due to a back injury. Additionally, Karun Nair has made an expected return to the Karnataka squad for the prestigious domestic tournament.
Other Sports News
In badminton, India commenced its mixed team campaign at the BWF World Junior Championships (Suhandinata Cup) with a strong victory over Nepal. Meanwhile, in the Asian Aquatics Championships, the Indian men's water polo team faced a defeat, losing 6-20 to Kazakhstan.