October 2025 will always remain special for me.

It was the month I photographed my first international sports tournament — the World Para Athletics Championships, held at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.

What made it even more special?
The stadium is just 20 minutes from my home.

Sometimes the biggest moments happen close to where you live.

The Opportunity

I received permission to photograph the event thanks to Akilesh Subramaniam from ISG, who was handling media operations for the tournament. I’m grateful for the opportunity to witness and document such a global event.

Even though I wasn’t positioned trackside, I had access from the stands — and that was more than enough to experience the intensity and emotion of world-class para athletics.

As a sports photographer, you learn quickly: It’s not about where you stand, It’s about how you see.

The Energy of Para Athletics

This tournament was different.

There was no hesitation. No holding back.

Every athlete competed with absolute focus — as if limitations did not exist. Watching them perform was deeply inspiring. The energy in the stadium was pure.

From track races to field events, every moment carried weight.

I was fortunate to witness some incredible performances, including:

• Navdeep – the javelin throw specialist, whose presence electrified the field.

• Praveen Kumar – the high jump specialist, whose focus before every attempt was intense and calm at the same time.

Seeing athletes of this level compete live — and being able to document it — was a moment of growth for me.

Shooting From the Stands – The Real Challenge

Covering a tournament from the stands brings its own technical challenges.

You don’t have the freedom to move around.
You can’t change angles easily.
You must anticipate everything.

Composition becomes the hardest part.

In events like javelin throw, I was sometimes positioned directly behind or directly in front of the athlete’s line. That makes framing tricky. You need to time the release perfectly to avoid awkward overlaps or blocked frames.

This is where patience becomes more important than position.

Gear That Made It Possible

My 200–500mm f/5.6 lens was the real hero of this tournament.

The long focal range allowed me to:

• Capture tight action shots even from the stands

• Isolate athletes cleanly from the background

• Track movement across the field
  
  

The constant f/5.6 aperture helped in maintaining consistent exposure, especially in evening sessions when light started dropping.

Low light inside large stadiums is never easy.

But pairing the long reach with careful ISO control helped me achieve sharp, usable images even in challenging lighting conditions.

This tournament once again proved something to me:
Good sports photography is about anticipation + reach + timing.

A Rollercoaster of Emotions

What stood out most was not just the athletic performance.

It was the emotion.

Athletes celebrating with their partners.
Coaches hugging competitors after attempts.
Moments of silence before a jump.
Moments of explosion after a win.

From the stands, you get a wider emotional view.

You see not just the athlete —
but the people behind the athlete.

And that adds depth to every frame.

Lessons From My First International Tournament

This event taught me:

• Position doesn’t define storytelling.

• Long lenses are powerful tools when movement is restricted.

• Composition under limitation improves creative thinking.

• International tournaments demand faster anticipation.

• Emotion matters as much as peak action.

Most importantly, it reminded me why I love sports photography.

Why This Tournament Will Always Be Special

Being my first international sports coverage, this championship will always have aa place in my journey.

From shooting local tournaments…
to documenting world-level para athletes…
inside a stadium just 20 minutes from home…

It felt like a quiet milestone.

Not loud.
Not dramatic.

But important.