Himalayan News Service

Pokhara, January 17

Ajay of India won the title of the Fifth Nepal Open Paragliding Tournament, organised by Sunrise Paragliding Pvt Ltd, here today.

Debu Chaudhary, also from India, and Armo of France, finished second and third respecively.

In all, 26 competitors participated in the three-day tournament, held in the open sky above Phewa Lake.

Managing director of the organisers Sunrise Paragliding Pvt Ltd, Rajesh Bamjan also said that the tournament was held for making Pokhara a destination for paragliding.

Rajesh Bamjan and Binod Bamjam along with

the participants from Italy, England, India, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Scotland, Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria took part in the tournament. A Swiss and two British women also took part in the event.

Many of the participants failed to land in the allotted spot. The landings were arranged on raft-boats on Phewa Lake. Some even landed on the water and were rescued. The event was started from the Sarangkot hills.

Debu Chaudhary, a 24-year Indian participant, described Pokhara as the safest place for paragliding. Dyan Benoite, a British, also opined that Pokhara could be developed as a destination for paragliding.

The winners were evaluated on the basis of the maximum distance they covered with the wind, tournament referee, a French paraglider, Sarge said.

Both executive directors of the management of the tournament, Bijay Suwal and Prasant Tamrakar expressed their commitments of supporting the sport in future also.

They also urged the need of government policy for starting of paragliding school.