The tone has been set at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships and thrilling finals action awaits on day two of competition, as Samuel Rizzo and Ella Hose prepare to lead the way at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
At 20-years-old, Hose (VIC, John Eden, F37) finds herself within reach of her maiden global podium after finishing fourth in the Shot Put F37 at the 2024 Paralympic Games, where she set a new national record of 11.25m.
Adding the rotation to her technique in 2025 to set herself up for future success, the rising thrower is chasing new distances as she builds into her international career at her second World Para Athletics Championships.
“This year I have been making the transition to the rotation action in shot put which has been really challenging, but I’m holding faith that it will benefit me in the long run,” Hose said.
“I’m a lot shorter than a lot of my competitors, so I need to make up for the lack of height with speed – which you can get more of doing the rotation.”
Hose will be buoyed by the success of Kirra Wright on the opening day of competition as the teenager clinched Shot Put F36 silver, with her senior counterpart now hoping to repeat the dose.
“I have really enjoyed seeing so many young people and fresh faces in the sport. I feel so inspired to see them just starting out. I know I was only just there but it feels like a long time ago.”
Wheelchair racer Rizzo (VIC, Fred Periac, T54) will gear up for the 5000m final where 12.5 laps of the track will open his New Delhi schedule, with the experienced campaigner building a solid resume on the world stage.
Finishing 10th in the event at his last World Championships appearance in 2023, the 25-year-old owns a personal best of 9:53.70 over the distance but will be focussed on tactics and positioning in order to let his fitness flourish.
An emerging talent in the Para-sprinting ranks, 19-year-old Ullrich Muller (QLD, Ian Thompson, T38) returns for the 100m T38 final fresh off an 11.18 (+0.2) personal best in yesterday’s heats, with Nathan Jason (QLD, Vincent Jason, T12) also primed for a medal bid fresh off back-to-back national records on day one.
“This sets me up pretty well, I hate to say it but I think the 400m is my event. I know my Mum and Dad would love to hear me say that, but I hate it,” Muller joked.
14-year-old Lexie Brown (NSW, Zenon Kowalczyk, T47) is already one of the feel-good stories of the championships having made the journey to New Delhi from Nambucca Heads, now ready to take on the 100m T47 heats where her personal best stands at the 13.59-second showing she delivered at the 2025 Australian Athletics Championships in Perth.
Adding to the action, Paralympic champion and world record holder James Turner (ACT, Iryna Dvoskina, T36) will warm into proceedings in the 400m T36 heats, while debutant Akeesha Snowden (SA, Lynn Larsen, T37) will take on her first of three events – the 400m T37 which is a straight final.
Paralympic medallist Rheed McCracken (NSW, Louise Sauvage, T34) will also look to punch his ticket to the 400m T34 final on the second day of competition in New Delhi, which can be streamed live and free in Australia via the Paralympic Games YouTube channel.
The 2025 World Para Athletics Championships are being held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India from September 27 – October 5.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 28/09/2025
