New Delhi: Some of the world’s top paragliders will be seen in action from October 23 to 30 at the AAI Paragliding World Cup in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh next month, the first ever event of the World Cup Tour to be held in India.
The week-long event — one of five such gatherings around the globe that act as qualifiers for the Super World Cup — will also see a number of other aero-sports at one of the most natural locations for the sport at Bir Billing, about 40 km from Kangra town.
Three of the four world’s top-ranked pilots, including the top three from Oceania-Asia, the top two from Africa and France’s Julie Wirtz, among the most successful woman pilots of all time, make up a field of 130 entrants from over 35 countries.
The event will be sponsored by the Airports Authority of India, which has taken upon itself to promote and push adventure sports in India, also has a host of other sponsors.
Announcing the participation of the world’s best 130 pilots, including an Indian team of seven, the organisers also unveiled the AAI Paragliding World Cup Trophy and the mascot, which is based on Himachal’s state animal, the snow leopard. The event is being supported by Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Preity Zinta, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and cricketer Yuvraj Singh.
