Akshay & Tarannum win paragliding cup in Dharamsala

The Dhauladhar Paragliding Accuracy Cup concluded yesterday at the Narwana Paragliding Site in Dharamsala, showcasing exceptional performances by Indian paragliders. In the men’s category, Akshay from Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district secured the first place, while in the women’s category, Tarannum Thakur claimed the top spot. Narwana’s “Fly in Sky” team emerged victorious in the team category.

The five-day event, organised by the Adventure Sports Federation of Himachal Pradesh (ASF) and the Narwana Adventure Club, witnessed participation from pilots representing India, the Indian Army, Air Force, Assam Rifles, Spain, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and the USA.

Dharamsala BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma graced the closing ceremony as the chief guest, felicitating winners of the first, second and third positions. David from Spain and Aman Thapa from Nepal secured second and third places in the men’s category, respectively. In the women’s category, Alisha Katoch bagged second place, while Jean from the USA finished third. In the team event, Kazakhstan secured the runner-up position, with India finishing third.

MLA Sudhir Sharma expressed plans to organize a World Cup at the Narwana site in the future, aiming to establish Dharamsala as a hub for adventure sports. He, however, criticized delays in development projects under the current government. Tarannum Thakur, the women’s champion, praised the Narwana site’s suitability for accuracy paragliding and encouraged youth participation in such events. She advocated for reducing commercial flying to focus on competitive paragliding.

Men’s champion Akshay, who has been flying since 2017, shared his experience of flying in Dharamsala, Ladakh, and Shimla, emphasizing the growth opportunities in adventure sports.