The 2025 edition of the World Paralympic Athletics Championship ends on Sunday (5) in New Delhi, India. Brazil heads the medal board and can end the event in the lead for the first time. The green and yellow delegation has 12 gold, against nine from China, second place.
If the countries end with the same number as golds, the tiebreaker will be for the other colors. So far, Brazil has 19 silver, against 18 from China, but is behind in the bronzes (14 to 7). The only Brazilian podium on Saturday (4), however, is under analysis. And it is precisely a silver.
After second place in the F57 class weight throw (athletes with lower limb deficiency, which compete), Thiago Paulino had an attempt contested by Finn Teijo Koopikka, who filed a protest. The Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB) also appealed.
The first final with Brazilian presence this Sunday begins at 12:53 PM (Brasília time), with Zileide Cassiano and Jardênia Félix in the T20 class leap (intellectual disability). At the Paris Paralympics, France, in 2024, Zileide was silver in the race. At 8:45 am, if passing through the semifinal, Lorraine Aguiar and Clara Daniele compete in the 200 meters of the T12 class (low vision).
Then at 8:53 am, Thalita Simplício and Jerusa Geber run the 100 meters of the T11 class (Total Blind). The race can isolate Jerusa – her champion at Paris Games and already has a gold in New Delhi in 100 meters – as the country’s largest medalist in athletics worlds. At the moment, she has the same 12 of Terezinha Guilhermina, another icon of Paradesport.
At 9:07 am, Aser Ramos disputes the T36 class leap final (cerebral paralyzed). In the Paralympics of the French capital, he was silver. At 9:25 am, the decision of the weight of the F63 Class F63 (amputates of one leg at the knee level or above, which compete with prostheses), with Edenilson Floriani.
Before 10am, Brazil may have chances of medal in events of 200 meters. At 9:37 am, if they advance in the semifinals, Fernanda Yara and Maria Clara Augusto vie podium for the T47 class (amputation in one arms, below or at the level of the elbow or wrist). Then, at 9:44 am, Romildo Pereira dos Santos is expected to the T44 class final (lower limb deficiency without prosthesis).
The last final guaranteed for Brazil is that of Alan Fonteles in the 400 meters of the T62 class (amputation on both legs below the knee, with prostheses), at 10:22. 12 years ago, Alan was world champion in the distance. There is a possibility for Wallison to fight for medal in 200 meters of the T64 class (one leg amputation from the knee down, also with prostheses) if he goes through the semifinals.
The best Brazilian campaign in paralympic athletics worldwide, so far, is the previous edition in Kobe, Japan last year. Brazil was second in the medal board, with 19 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronzes. In total number of podiums, the most significant performance was Paris, in 2023: 47 in all, 14 at the top.
