Players practicing during Paragliding satellite cupful 2024 astatine Bir Billing successful Himachal Pradesh. (Express Photo)
The 2024 Paragliding World Cup launched astatine the renowned Bir-Billing tract successful Kangra district, attracting 94 paragliders from 26 countries, including 32 Indian participants and 7 women. This is the 2nd World Cup held astatine Bir-Billing, pursuing the inaugural lawsuit successful 2015. Although the archetypal time was reserved for trial flights, allowing pilots to set to the climate, competitory events volition commence shortly.
Ankit Sood, spokesperson for the Billing Paragliding Association (BPA), highlighted the extended readying that went into securing this World Cup slot, which required 2 palmy pre-World Cup events successful 2022 and 2023. Sood emphasised the site’s maturation arsenic an planetary paragliding venue, reflecting years of dedicated preparation.
Following 2 caller fatal accidents involving paragliders from Belgium and the Czech Republic, BPA has implemented heightened information protocols. According to a BPA official, 2 helicopters, 7 aesculapian teams with ambulances, and six trained rescue and retrieval teams are present connected standby, supported by unit from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering successful Manali.
Roshan Lal Thakur, a founding subordinate of BPA and 1 of the Indian participants, shared that assorted tasks, tailored to antithetic distances and upwind conditions, would beryllium assigned daily. Thakur explained that cross-country flights of 10 km, 50 km, and 100 km would trial participants’ accomplishment and adaptability.
Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Chairman R.S. Bali inaugurated the event, flagging disconnected the trial flights. Bali praised Bir-Billing arsenic 1 of the world’s champion paragliding sites and highlighted its economical and taste significance. Emphasising the government’s committedness to escapade tourism, helium announced Rs 60 lakh for the Bir landing site, Rs 7 lakh for further amenities, and Rs 35 lakh for lawsuit support. A assistance astatine the Kheer Ganga ghat parking tract is besides planned.
The lawsuit besides featured a accepted “havan” ceremonial for the information and occurrence of participants, blending Indian customs with an planetary audience. Key attendees included BPA President Anurag Sharma, erstwhile MLA Surinder Kaku, Aero Club of India Observer Arvind Oak, and officials from the Paragliding World Cup Association.