Paragliding Accuracy Championship in Bir
A unique opportunity to float through the air while supported by a light, canopy-like wing is provided by the thrilling adventure sport of paragliding. With the aid of wind and thermals, pilots can control their beautiful flight and get breathtaking aerial views of the surrounding area during this heart-pounding pastime. One of the finest paragliding locations in the world is Bir, which is situated in Himachal Pradesh’s picturesque Kangra Valley. The small town’s breathtaking natural beauty, with its undulating hills, lush greenery, and majestic Dhaula Dhar mountain range as a backdrop, makes it the perfect location for paragliding aficionados. Bir is a year-round paragliding hub, primarily due to its excellent wind conditions and the captivating environment that draws numerous paragliders each year for the annual Paragliding Accuracy Championships. The region is also home to several reputable paragliding schools and experienced instructors, ensuring that tourists can experience the thrill of flying through the air while safely taking in the breathtaking vistas of this magnificent Himalayan region.
Bir billing added a new star to their mountain peaks by proudly hosting the 2023 Paragliding Accuracy championship in the summer month of April, the championship took place for 5 days starting from the 5th of April and extending to the 9th of April 2023. A team from the Federation of Aeronautics and Paragliding World Cup Association was in charge of overseeing the International Championship standards and was also responsible for reviewing and selecting the tournament winner(s) fairly. Joy rides and Tandem or commercial flights were closed during these dates and only the participants could engage in the paragliding. The championship was sponsored by Pine & Sky Travel Pvt Ltd, Zee Himachal& Haryana, Himachal Tourism, Aero Club of India, PWCA, and FAI.
Anurag Sharma, the director of the Bir Billing Paragliding Association, reported that 142 pilots from ten different countries participated in the competition. The Paragliding Accuracy Championship welcomed Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu as the chief guest at the concluding ceremony who congratulated Bir Billing Paragliding Association for successfully organizing the championship and claimed that- “Bir Billing was the best location in the world for paragliding”. He promised that Bir would be promoted as a tourist destination, a proposal would be submitted soon, and that land would be bought close to the landing area to facilitate better event planning for paragliding.
Mr. Sukhu said that the state administration would consider staging a carnival in Bir to boost tourism. He also said that Police Chowki Bir would become a police station and that a polytechnic college with new technical courses would soon be built in Baijnath. He anticipated that Kangra would soon be designated as the state administration’s tourism capital and that the airport was being expanded to encourage tourism in Kangra.
Among others present on the occasion-Chief parliamentary secretary Ashish Butail, MLA Yadvinder Goma, chairman, of HP Agriculture Development Bank, Sanjay Chauhan, former MLA Ajay Mahajan, deputy commissioner, Kangra, Nipun Jindal, deputy commissioner, Mandi, Arindam Choudhary also attended the championship.
The championship started From the Billing Paragliding Launch site, pilots had to take off one at a time and land at the Chougan Landing site at a specific location. Pilots must land in one of the three marked circles on the ground or the black spot in the middle to earn points. All of the circles expand the area. The greatest score was awarded to a pilot who landed in the center black spot, and other points were awarded based on how far they were from the center. Each pilot received points based on how far they were from the central point. There were three chances for each pilot to earn points. The competition was won by the pilot who earned the most points.
In the Paragliding Accuracy championship, Nepali teams took first and second place, with Team Dev Pashakot Adventure placing third. Aman Thapa and Bishal Thapa, both from Nepal, took the first two spots in the men’s division, with Chitra Singh coming in third. Chitra Singh won the competition at the national level, while Amit Kumar and Sohan Thakur finished second and third, respectively. Alisha Katoch took first place in the women’s division, followed by Rita Shreshtha in second and Aditi Thakur in third. The prize included cash along with medals for the winners.
The 2023 Paragliding Accuracy Championship was a spectacular event that celebrated the spirit of adventure, skill, and international camaraderie. With the commitment of the government and the enthusiasm of the participants and organizers, the future of paragliding in Bir Billing looks even brighter, promising more breathtaking moments and memorable competitions in the years to come.
