New Delhi 2025: Five male athletes to watch

Over 1,200 athletes will compete at the IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, taking place from 27 September to 5 October in India. Among them are more than 200 Paralympic medallists and just as many World Championships podium finishers, making this one of the most competitive editions yet.

Here are five male athletes to watch in New Delhi:

Athanasios Ghavelas (Greece)

The fastest T11 sprinter on the planet, the 25-year-old arrives in India aiming to add a second World Championships gold to his collection. Ghavelas is a two-time Paralympic champion in the men’s 100m T11 (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024) and claimed his first world title in Paris two years ago.

He will compete in the men’s 100m T11 on day six (2 October), with heats scheduled for the morning session.

Ezra Frech (USA)

New Delhi marks the start of the new Paralympic cycle toward LA2028—a journey especially meaningful for Frech, who calls Los Angeles home. He made his World Championships debut at just 14 in Dubai 2019, and has since become a rising star.

Frech won gold in the men’s high jump T63 and silver in Kobe last year, followed by double Paralympic gold in the 100m T63 and high jump T63 at Paris 2024.

He will compete in the high jump T63 on opening day (27 September), the long jump T63 on day three (29 September), and the 100m T63 on the final day (5 October).

O craque, the best in the world: his name is Petrúcio Ferreira 🇧🇷
King of the 100m T47 since 2017, is he on his way to a fifth consecutive world title? Find out at #NewDelhi25 💫#ParaAthletics pic.twitter.com/BRr1hTtYYL

— Para Athletics (@ParaAthletics) August 21, 2025

James Turner (Australia)

A former seven-a-side CP footballer, Turner made a stunning Para athletics debut with gold in the men’s 800m T36 at Rio 2016. He has since added three more Paralympic titles, including two in Paris (100m and 400m T36), and boasts seven World Championships golds—three from London 2017, two from Dubai 2019, and two from Paris 2023.

Turner will aim for a fourth world title in the 400m T36 on day two (28 September) and a third gold in the 100m T36 on day seven (3 October).

Markus Rehm (Germany)

Since 2011, the men’s long jump for below-knee amputee athletes has become one of the most anticipated events at the World Championships—thanks to Markus Rehm. The German legend won his first gold in Christchurch and has since claimed seven world titles in the event, plus two relay golds.

A five-time Paralympic champion, Rehm holds the world record of 8.72m and is aiming to soar even further in New Delhi.

He will compete on day six (2 October) in the evening session.

Petrucio Ferreira (Brazil)

No Paralympic athlete is faster than Petrucio Ferreira. His personal best of 10.29 seconds (set in 2022) remains unmatched, with Norway’s Salum Kashafali (T12) the closest at 10.37.

Ferreira has six World Championships golds, including four in the men’s 100m T47, and is a three-time Paralympic champion in the event.

He will be one of the stars of the opening session in the 100m T47 heats, with the final scheduled for the evening of day one (27 September).