Vladimir sviridov

World Para Athletics Championships: Unstoppable Catherine Debrunner became the first athlete to win three gold medals in the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Wednesday. Having already claimed the women’s 5000m T54 and 800m T53 crowns, she added the 1500m T54 title in a Championships Record time of 3:16.81.

The defending champion Zhou Zhaoqian (China) was relegated to second place for the second time after the 800m. The Chinese will be hoping to turn the tables on Debrunner in the 100m and 400m sprints over the next few days, but Debrunner, having won four gold medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, will want to go one better here.

There was intense drama in the men’s shot put F36 contest with Vladimir Sviridov (Neutral Para Athlete) uncorking a monstrous 17.01m effort on his final try to claim gold. On his previous visit to the circle, the Russian-born had managed 16.93 to take the lead from defending champion Yassine Guenichi (Tunisia), only to see the latter get his nose ahead with his last try.