Inauguration of the First Paragliding Premier League in Dharan

The first-ever Paragliding Premier League Open Accuracy Series competition in Nepal is set to take place in Dharan from May 8 to May 11. This event features 32 participants from Nepal and India, with a total prize pool of NPR 625,000. The Koshi Province government is covering all expenses for the competition and plans to organize international-level contests in the upcoming fiscal year. (May 8, Sunsari)

The inaugural Paragliding Premier League Open Accuracy Series competition commenced on Friday in Dharan. Organized by the Nepal Paragliding and Hang Gliding Association, the competition will continue until May 11. The event began at the hilltop of Chhotimorang, Ward No. 4, Dharan, with paragliders from both Nepal and India participating. According to Bhupal Rai, the central chairman of the association, pilots will launch from the hill near Thausends Big Buddha and aim to land in the fields around Khatri Dhara, Ward No. 14, Dharan.

A total of 32 pilots, including four women, are competing in the tournament, which is divided into four groups. The total prize money is set at NPR 625,000. The overall accuracy winners will receive NPR 150,000 for first place, NPR 100,000 for second, and NPR 75,000 for third. In the women’s accuracy solo group, the first-place winner will get NPR 40,000, second place NPR 25,000, and third place NPR 15,000.

Chairman Bhupal Rai emphasized that this first-ever accuracy paragliding competition in Nepal will aid tourism promotion through adventure sports. He said, “Although paragliding and hang gliding have a history of over four decades in Nepal, this is the first time an accuracy league system competition has been organized in a structured manner, beginning in Dharan.” The competition’s inauguration was conducted by the Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Kumar Karki, who welcomed the participating Indian pilots and officially launched the event.