Gliding in Andhra Pradesh

Overview

Governing body: Aero Club of India
Origin: Early aviation
Olympic discipline: No
Category: Air
Total players listed: …

Gliding is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The Aero Club of India oversees national federation activity, talent identification and Olympic qualification pathways. Major support flows in through TOPS and Khelo India for athletes who clear federation benchmarks.

Gliding is not currently on the Olympic programme, but it sits firmly inside India's broader sporting ecosystem. The discipline receives support through the Khelo India movement, multi-sport events such as the National Games and Asian Games trials wherever the sport is contested, and dedicated league or championship structures run by the federation. Sponsorship, broadcast deals and private academies often fill the gap that direct government funding leaves, and several state governments offer cash awards, government jobs and land grants to medallists at the National Games and recognised world championships.

Air sports in India are administered by the Aero Club of India, with strict DGCA regulation covering airspace, equipment and pilot certification. Competitive activity is small but growing, and India has begun to send teams to FAI world events. Training is heavily dependent on weather, terrain and club infrastructure, with Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Karnataka emerging as hubs.

At the grassroots, the route into Gliding typically starts at school under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), at the inter-university level under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or through a private academy registered with the state association. The Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are the largest single discovery platforms — athletes who reach the podium at these events become eligible for the Khelo India Talent Development scheme, which funds boarding, coaching, kit, education and a monthly stipend at accredited centres. State sports awards and central government jobs under the sports quota remain a powerful incentive for athletes from smaller towns.

Gliding originated in Early aviation, and in India it has developed a distinct character shaped by the country's geography, demographics and sporting culture. Whether you want to compete, coach, sponsor, write about or simply follow Gliding, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the Aero Club of India, identify the nearest SAI centre or accredited academy, and track the Khelo India and federation calendars for the events that decide selection at every level. Gliding is played and developed across India under the Aero Club of India, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

History

How gliding evolved globally and took root in India.

Gliding traces its modern origins to Early aviation. Codified rules, standard equipment and international competition took shape as the sport spread beyond its birthplace, and Aero Club of India is the body that carried it into organised Indian competition.

In India, gliding grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under Aero Club of India, national championships were instituted, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) later brought it into the centralised high-performance system with dedicated centres, coaching cadres and sports-science support.

Gliding sits outside the Olympic programme but is firmly part of India's Asian Games, Commonwealth and National Games map, with state governments backing medallists through cash awards, jobs and land grants.

Indian Players

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Rules

Flight tasks and aerobatic routines are judged and scored under FAI Sporting Code, with airspace clearance from DGCA and site-specific launch/landing protocols. Pilot licences, currency requirements and equipment certification (wing, harness, reserve, radio) are mandatory.

Authoritative rulebook: Aero Club of India. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a gliding squad or competition.

Competition pilot
Flies scored tasks under the FAI Sporting Code.
Instructor & tandem pilot
Certified to train new pilots and fly passengers.
Safety officer / launch marshal
Runs the launch and landing sites at competitions.

Equipment

Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in gliding at a federation-recognised event.

DGCA / FAI-certified wing, canopy, parachute, glider or balloon
Harness, helmet, reserve, altimeter, vario, radio
GPS logger and track camera
Launch and landing site with wind indicator
Recovery and safety vehicle

Governing body

National federation

Aero Club of India

Aero Club of India is the recognised national body for Gliding in India. It sets the domestic calendar, selection norms, coaching curriculum and anti-doping compliance, and is affiliated to the international federation for gliding. State associations under Aero Club of India run age-group competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Origin: Early aviation
Olympic: No
Category: Air

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Major Indian Events

Domestic championships, Khelo India events, National Games and franchise leagues that shape the gliding calendar in India.

Aero Club of India Senior National Championship
The primary domestic gliding title and the main selection trial for the senior India team.
Aero Club of India Junior & Sub-Junior National Championship
Age-group nationals that feed the Khelo India Talent Development scheme and the senior camp.
Khelo India Youth Games & University Games — Gliding
India's largest multi-sport scouting platform; medallists become eligible for KIA stipends and boarding at accredited centres.
National Games of India — Gliding
Quadrennial multi-sport meet contested by state teams; state governments give cash awards, jobs and land grants to medallists.

International Events

Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in gliding.

Asian Games & Asian Championships
Continental championship pathway sanctioned by Aero Club of India; medallists receive central and state cash awards.
Commonwealth Games / Championships
Commonwealth-level competition where India regularly fields medal contenders in gliding.
World Championships
The senior world title event of the international federation — the peak of the gliding calendar outside the Olympic year.

Leagues

No dedicated professional league is currently catalogued for gliding. The national championship under Aero Club of India remains the top domestic competition.

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International Players

Globally recognised gliding athletes to know outside India.

Chrigel Maurer (Switzerland)
Multiple-time Red Bull X-Alps and World paragliding champion.
Rob Whittall (UK)
World paragliding and hang-gliding champion.

Records

Where to find India's official gliding record book.

Olympic medalsN/A
Gliding is not on the Olympic programme, so India records this discipline through Asian Games, Commonwealth, World and Continental championships instead.
Asian Games medalsTracked
India's Asian Games results in gliding are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the Aero Club of India.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in gliding are maintained by the Aero Club of India.
World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for gliding and mirrored by Aero Club of India.
National record holdersFederation register
Aero Club of India publishes the current senior, junior and sub-junior national records and updates them after every ratified event.

Career Options

Ways to build a career in gliding — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

Competitive pilot on the FAI world calendar
Instructor and tandem pilot
Safety officer, launch marshal and event director
Wing / canopy / equipment specialist and repair centre
Adventure tourism and flying-club operations
Judge and technical official

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Related academies

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No gliding academies are catalogued in the directory yet. Browse the full academy list or list your academy to appear here.

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Government Schemes

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Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for gliding athletes and academies.

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FAQs

Common questions about gliding in India.

Who governs Gliding in India?▾

Aero Club of India is the recognised national federation for Gliding in India. State associations under Aero Club of India run age-group and state-level competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Is Gliding an Olympic sport?▾

Gliding is not currently on the Olympic programme, but India competes at Asian Games, Commonwealth Games (where recognised), World Championships and other continental events sanctioned by Aero Club of India.

How do I start playing Gliding in India?▾

Join a school team under SGFI, a college team under AIU, or a private academy affiliated to your state association. From there, age-group state championships and Khelo India events are the standard route into the national pipeline.

What government schemes support Gliding athletes?▾

The core schemes are Khelo India (talent development stipends, scholarships and boarding at accredited centres), TOPS (funding for elite athletes preparing for the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games), and state-government cash awards, jobs and land grants for medallists. Federation-specific schemes may also apply.

Where can I train for Gliding?▾

Sports Authority of India (SAI) national centres of excellence, Khelo India accredited academies, state sports institutes and private academies registered with the state association are the standard training venues. The Academies section on this page lists options.

How are Indian Gliding athletes selected for international events?▾

Aero Club of India runs selection trials — typically the senior national championship, a dedicated trial event, or ranking-based selection — and publishes the selection policy each season. Objective criteria (times, distances, ranking points, weight-class results) dominate at the elite level.

Gliding in every state & UT

Dedicated pages for Gliding in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.

Gliding