The lakeside city of Pokhara is set to once again become the center of competitive paragliding as the 21st Nepal Open Paragliding Competition (Accuracy) returns this week, marking the revival of one of Nepal’s most prestigious air sports events. The competition had been suspended for several years due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and airspace restrictions following the opening of the Pokhara International Airport.
The four-day competition, organized by the Nepal Air Sports Association (NAA), will take place from March 18 to March 21, with registration and technical procedures scheduled for March 17. The event is expected to attract both national and international paragliding pilots, reaffirming Pokhara’s reputation as one of the world’s premier destinations for air sports and adventure tourism.
Revival of a Prestigious International Competition
The Nepal Open Paragliding Competition has long been recognized as a major event in Nepal’s adventure sports calendar. Over the years, it has drawn skilled pilots from across the world and played a significant role in promoting Nepal as a global paragliding hub.
The 20th edition of the competition had achieved a milestone by becoming the first Asian Tour event of the Paragliding World Cup Association (PWCA). However, the outbreak of COVID-19 disrupted international sporting events worldwide, forcing organizers to suspend the competition.
In addition to the pandemic, newly introduced airspace regulations around Pokhara following the operation of Pokhara International Airport created further challenges for paragliding activities. Extensive negotiations with aviation authorities were required before competitive flying could safely resume.
According to organizers, the 21st edition symbolizes a renewed commitment to international cooperation, safety standards, and the long-term development of air sports in Nepal.
Role of Nepal Air Sports Association
The Nepal Air Sports Association, which represents Nepal in the global aviation sports community, is responsible for organizing the event. The association works closely with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to regulate paragliding activities and ensure compliance with aviation safety standards.
NAA also serves as Nepal’s representative body to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world governing body for air sports. The association is currently working to regain its FAI Active Member status, which had lapsed during the pandemic period when international competitions and activities were halted.
Organizers stated that once the membership is reinstated, they plan to elevate future editions of the Nepal Open Paragliding Competition to FAI Category 2 status, further enhancing the international prestige of the event.
Competition Format and Schedule
The 21st edition will focus on Paragliding Accuracy, a discipline in which pilots aim to land as precisely as possible on a designated target. Nepal has built a strong international reputation in this category, with several Nepali pilots achieving success in global competitions.
The competition will consist of a minimum of one round and a maximum of eight rounds, depending on weather conditions. For safety reasons, the wind limit at the landing zone has been set at five meters per second. Permitted landing wind directions include west, north, and east.
Team competitions will include four pilots per team, with the best three scores counted in each round. Team compositions must be officially declared during the technical meeting before the competition begins.
The schedule includes pilot briefings and official practice sessions on March 18, followed by three days of competitive flying from March 19 to March 21. The event will conclude with an official closing ceremony on the final day. The entry fee for participants has been set at 50 US dollars.
Prize Categories and Awards
Cash prizes will be awarded in men’s, women’s, and team categories. In the men’s individual competition, the gold medalist will receive NPR 150,000, the silver medalist NPR 100,000, and the bronze medalist NPR 50,000.
In the women’s category, the gold medal prize is NPR 75,000, silver NPR 50,000, and bronze NPR 25,000. The team category prizes mirror the women’s category, with gold at NPR 75,000, silver NPR 50,000, and bronze NPR 25,000.
Pokhara: A Global Paragliding Destination
Pokhara’s reputation as a world-class paragliding destination continues to attract adventure sports enthusiasts from around the globe. Its consistent thermal currents, reliable ridge lift, well-designed landing zones, and breathtaking views of the Himalayas make it one of the finest flying sites in the world.
Flights typically launch from the scenic Sarangkot hilltop and land near the shores of Phewa Lake, offering spectacular views of Himalayan peaks including Annapurna and Machhapuchhre. Currently, the Nepal Air Sports Association regulates 13 different paragliding sites across Nepal, ranging from Pokhara to high-altitude locations such as Jumla. The organization aims to balance the rapid growth of adventure tourism with strict safety standards and environmental responsibility.
Organizers have expressed their commitment to restoring the Nepal Open Paragliding Competition as an annual event, reviving the continuous tradition it maintained before the pandemic disrupted global sports. With international pilots expected to participate and global attention returning to Pokhara’s skies, the 21st edition is seen as a significant step in revitalizing Nepal’s competitive paragliding scene and strengthening the country’s reputation as a leading destination for adventure tourism.
