Himachal: Cross Country World Cup Paragliding International Championship kickstarts at Bir Billing

Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh is currently hosting the Cross Country World Cup Paragliding International Championship, a pre-World Cup event, thereby signaling the start of paragliding activities.

The international event was officially launched by Kishori Lal, the Chief Parliamentary Secretary, who inaugurated the event, which is a collaborative effort between the Billing Paragliding Association and the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation.
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The serene and charming Bir Billing valley near Baijnath in Kangra district, which is usually peaceful, has now come alive with activity as the week-long Cross Country World Cup Paragliding International Championship commenced recently. The Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) RS Bali, inaugurated the tournament virtually from Shimla. Prior to this, Kishori Lal performed a yajna at the Billing take-off site.

As per the reports, a total of 186 participants from 33 countries are taking part in this event, which is co-hosted by the Billing Paragliding Association (BPA) and HPTDC. Participants from countries, such as Australia, the United States, France, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden, South Africa, China, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Norway, Iran, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Nepal, the Czech Republic, Canada, Bulgaria, as well as paragliding teams from the Indian Air Force, Navy, and Army are participating in the event.

Reports further add that two dedicated teams from the Indian Air Force Adventure Wing and Army Adventure Wing have also been deployed to handle any emergency, evacuation, or rescue needs.

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During his address, Bali mentioned that the state government is actively promoting adventure sports, and expressed hope that Bir Billing would soon host a Paragliding World Cup. He emphasized the excitement of sports enthusiasts and the local population about this event.

In 2015, the inaugural Paragliding World Cup in India was hosted at this location, marking the first-ever World Cup of its kind in the country. The present event represents the second international competition held at the same venue this year.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has a vision of Kangra becoming the premier tourist hub of the state. RS Bali noted that various projects are currently underway to realize this vision. He emphasized that Himachal Pradesh, known for its abundant natural beauty, has consistently attracted tourists, and the state is actively working on exploring new and undiscovered destinations. He also indicated that the state is committed to hosting more events like this in the future, contributing to the recovery of the tourism and hospitality sector, which has been affected by monsoon-related challenges.
The Paragliding Championship will conclude on November 2, with CM Sukhu presiding over the closing ceremony.