Stage all set for Paragliding WC from October 23 to 31

New Delhi: Everything is ready for the dawn of a new era in the sport with the AAI Paragliding World Cup at Bir-Billing in Himachal from October 23 to 31. 

 

The competition — preparations for which are all but complete — will see three of the four world’s top-ranked pilots besides the top three from Oceania-Asia and Top 2 from Africa and one of the most successful woman pilots in a field of 130 from over 35 countries.

 

Among nations sending in sizeable contingents are France (13), United Kingdom (9), Russia (7), South Korea (5), and four each from Germany, Japan and Norway. The field also includes about 12 women, including legendary former World No.1 Klaudia Bulgakow of Poland, who won the pre-World Cup at Bir-Billing two years ago.

 

Said Rajesh Srivastava, senior vice-president of the  Billing Paragliidng Association, “This is a very attractive sport to watch and follow but also requires a high degree of planning. We have one of the best fields this year in the World Cup and we expect the competition to be world class and set a new trend for Aero Sports in India.”

 

The event is being sponsored by the Airports Authority of India. The World Cup will see for the first time as many as eight Indian pilots taking part including the country’s best in Ajay Kumar and Gurpreet Dhindsa.

 

The home challenge comprises of Kumar, Dhindsa, Jyoti Thakur, Arvind Pal, Prakash Chand, Gautam Nath and Sanjay Kumar, five of whom are from Himachal Pradesh.