High Expectations for Cuba at World Para Athletics Championships

Jorge Palma, technical director of the Cuban Paralympic Committee, stated today that there are high expectations for Cuba’s performance at the IndianOil WPAC 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, which begin tomorrow.

Of the seven para athletes set to showcase their skills in their respective disciplines, the Cuban delegation is aiming for a minimum of three medals, including at least one gold, according to remarks Palma gave to Prensa Latina. Palma also serves as head of the National Department of Sport for Persons with Disabilities.

He explained that the delegation was initially composed of nine athletes, but one was unable to travel to Delhi due to illness. Once at the venue, another representative from the Caribbean island did not pass the medical review and was classified as “class incomplete,” which makes him ineligible to compete until a future international sporting event allows for a new evaluation.

Palma noted that if Cuba manages to achieve an additional victory beyond the set target, it would surpass the nation’s performance at last year’s World Championships in Osaka, Japan.

The official stressed that Cuba is participating with a reduced delegation because this event is not a qualifier for other competitions, even though it marks the first major event of the new Olympic cycle leading up to Los Angeles 2028.

As a result, Cuba decided to bring only those para athletes with the potential to secure respectable results at this World Championships—namely, those expected to rank among the top five finalists.

“The team is in good spirits and in good condition, and we believe the predictions will be met ahead of competition,” Palma concluded.

The IndianOil WPAC 2025 World Para Athletics Championships were officially inaugurated yesterday with a vibrant ceremony filled with music, joy, and color—an event that offered attendees a glimpse into the rich cultural diversity of the South Asian nation and carried a message of love, unity, and resilience.

On Friday, delegation leaders from the participating countries toured the recently renovated facilities at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, designed to maximize athletes’ ability, speed, and strength. Competitions are set to begin tomorrow, Saturday.

In addition to Cuba, athletes from Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Bermuda, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, and Peru will also represent Latin America and the Caribbean.