New Delhi 2025: Mamani Quispe strikes historic gold for Peru as records tumble

Neri Roxana Mamani Quispe won Peru’s first ever Para Athletics World Championships gold medal as she sealed the victory in the women’s 1500m T11 final in New Delhi on Sunday.

On the second day of the IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, the 27-year-old led the middle-distance race from start to finish to take the historic title in 4:59.93, 1.45 seconds faster than silver medallist Nancy Chelangat Koech of Kenya. Poland’s Joanna Mazur-Dziedzic claimed bronze.

While an emotional Quispe was in tears after the race and medal ceremony, her guide Aldo Milagro Cusi Huaman spoke of his admiration for the world champion.

“She (Neri Roxana Mamani Quispe) works really hard and never gives up,” he said.

“She’s an example of perseverance in my country and she is a source of pride for Peru and Cusco, the city where we live. We are thankful for all the Peruvians who have supported and encouraged us along this path.”

First world title for Comerford

Ireland’s Orla Comerford claimed her first World Championship medal as she won the women’s 100m T13 final with a championship record. Finishing in 11.88 seconds, the 28-year-old beat Brazil’s world record holder Rayane Soares da Silva by 0.21 of a second as Kym Crosby from the United States completed the podium.

“It feels amazing. All season, this was my goal,” Comerford said.

“It’s not one you want to put out there and be like, ’I want gold, I want to be a champion’, but I kind of kept my head down as I knew that I had to work hard.”

Earlier on the second day of action in New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Comerford’s teammate Greta Streimikyte had also made it to the top spot of her first World Championship podium 
as she won the women’s 1500m T13 final. 

The 30-year-old held the first place from the 300m mark to the finish and claimed the victory with a margin of 11.5 seconds ahead of runner-up Izaskun Oses Ayucar from Spain.

“I like taking a race and taking it on so I just took the opportunity,” Streimikyte said.

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Follow the full competition and every session of the IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships on the @Paralympics YouTube channel 📺

Subject to geo-blocking restrictions in some countries.#ParaAthletics #NewDelhi2025 pic.twitter.com/iI5IIqpZCW

— Para Athletics (@ParaAthletics) September 20, 2025

Swiss giants claim two gold

Switzerland also won two gold medals on Sunday as long distance specialists Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner retained their men’s and women’s 5000m T54 titles.

“You should never take it for granted, I’m really happy for the win,” said the world record-holder Debrunner, 30, who beat runner-up Tian Yajuan of China by a margin of 1.92 seconds.

"The other athletes are not sleeping; they are all here to do their very best and we have great athletes. I’m grateful to be part of this community.”

Competing in four other events in New Delhi, the six-time Paralympic champion said she aims to not get too far ahead of herself.

“I try to take day by day and rest as much as I can. I also want to watch the other races of my friends and cheer for them,” Debrunner said.

“I’m looking forward to competing in the next event, but first of all, enjoy this moment.”

Day 2️⃣ in India 🇮🇳#ParaAthletics #NewDelhi2025 pic.twitter.com/fBkLA6XQ9t

— Para Athletics (@ParaAthletics) September 28, 2025

One-two finish for USA

Jaydin Blackwell and Ryan Medrano produced a one-two for the United States in the men’s 100m T38 final. World record-holder Blackwell, 21, flew off the starting blocks and was unbeatable after a strong first 40m push. 

Claiming the gold medal in a championship record time of 10.70, he beat his teammate by two tenths of a second as Thomas Young of Great Britain won bronze.

“It feels really good to race this dude (Medrano) all day every day,” Blackwell said.

“We just push each other and I’m so glad that I get to race with someone like him. We build chemistry from each other every day and help each other out in so many ways.”

Cockroft starts with a bang

Great Britain’s Hannah Cockroft started her New Delhi 2025 campaign off in the best possible way, winning the women’s 400m T34 final with a new championship record of 55.62. The 33-year-old led the race from start to finish to claim her 17th world title by a margin of more than seven seconds ahead of her teammate Kare Adenegan in second place as Fabienne Andre completed 
the British clean sweep.

“It’s so nice to have the 400m (event) back. The last 400m I raced was in 2017, in London, which was of course an amazing ’Worlds’,” she said.

“I’m really happy with my time, a championship record. It’s a great sign, hopefully, of things to come."

Medal table update after two days of competition 📈#ParaAthletics #NewDelhi2025 pic.twitter.com/CK4ddy47Qs

— Para Athletics (@ParaAthletics) September 28, 2025

Dominant show

Norway’s Salum Ageze Kashafali won the men’s 100m T12 gold medal in a dominant fashion, producing a new world record time of 10.42 seconds. The 31-year-old, known for his victory dances, made a strong start and kept the momentum throughout the race, brushing one hundredth of a second off his own record from 2021 that he had equalled in Saturday’s heats.  

Despite slowing down in the last steps, Kashafali won his third world title more than half a second ahead of Japan’s Kuno Ryutaro. Brazil’s Kesley Teodoro won bronze, 0.03 behind the silver medallist.

Thailand’s Chaiwat Rattana set a world record in the men’s 400m T34 heat and will be the man to beat in Monday’s final.

Para athletes from Algeria, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Malaysia, New Zealand, Poland, Turkiye and Ukraine also won gold medals on the second day of the World Championships. 

Brazil have a narrow lead over no.2 China in the overall medal standings, both on three gold medals so far, as Ukraine, with two first places, hold the third place.