New Delhi, Oct 3 (NationPress) Brazil’s Antonia Keyla Da Silva Barros shattered a long-standing women’s 1500m T20 World Record by clinching gold with a time of 4 minutes 19.22 seconds at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships held here on Thursday. Her victory was particularly sweet as she triumphed over the six-time metric mile World Champion Barbara Bieganowska-Zajac from Poland.

Understanding the formidable prowess of Bieganowska-Zajac, who previously set the World Record in 2012 and boasts three gold medals from the Paralympic Games in this event, Barros maintained her focus. She built a significant lead before the final lap, showcasing her remarkable transition from being a guide runner for fellow Brazilian Edneusa de Jesus Santos Dorta during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Additionally, Wanna Brito Oliveria secured gold in the women’s Shot Put F32, also setting a World Record. Brazil's overall performance was exceptional, solidifying its position at the top of the medal standings with 12 gold, 16 silver, and 7 bronze medals, presenting a tough challenge for China, which has 8 gold, 10 silver, and 9 bronze medals.

The star of the event, however, was Catherine Debrunner from Switzerland, who captured her fourth gold medal in as many events. This versatile athlete excelled in track events from 100m to 5000m, winning the 100m T53 on Thursday night and setting a Championships record alongside her victories in the 800m T53, 1500m T54, and 5000m T54.

For India, Dharambir Nain, the 2024 Paralympic Games champion at age 36, and Atul Kaushik, 29, contributed a silver and a bronze to the Indian tally. However, without a gold medal in the first two days, the home team fell to seventh place with 4 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze medals.

Italy and Switzerland both achieved their fifth gold medal on Thursday. Meanwhile, Karen T Palomeque M from Colombia earned the women’s 200m T38 gold, helping Colombia surpass India with more silver medals.

Dharambir initially led the men’s Shot Put F46 final with a throw of 29.71m but was eventually overtaken by Serbia’s Aleksandar Radisic, who opened with a 30.36m throw. Indian Pranav Soorma, a silver medalist in Paris 2024, finished fifth.

Atul Kaushik faced a nerve-wracking wait before securing his bronze medal. Yorkinbek Odilov from Uzbekistan, who was last to throw, achieved a 45.05m on his fifth attempt, but a later throw went out of bounds, ensuring Kaushik's position on the podium.

Earlier in the day, Indian athlete Dilip Mahadu Gavit finished fourth in the men’s Discus Throw F37, leaving the arena disappointed after initially leading.

The men’s Long Jump T64 and Shot Put F46 finals were postponed due to rain, but the organizers managed to resume the men’s Discus Throw T57 and Club Throw F51 finals.