Paragliding in Meghalaya

Overview

Governing body: Aero Club of India
Origin: 1980s
Olympic discipline: No
Category: Adventure
Total players listed: …

Paragliding 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.

Paragliding 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.

Adventure sport in India operates at the intersection of competitive federation activity and the wider outdoor industry. The Aero Club of India certifies athletes and instructors, and competition pathways exist in sport climbing (now Olympic) and selected disciplines. The Himalayan belt, the Western Ghats and the coastline provide a natural training ground that few countries can match.

At the grassroots, the route into Paragliding 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.

Paragliding originated in 1980s, 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 Paragliding, 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. Paragliding is played and developed across India under the Aero Club of India, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

History

How paragliding evolved globally and took root in India.

Paragliding traces its modern origins to 1980s. 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, paragliding 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.

Paragliding 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

Climbing, paragliding, mountaineering and adventure disciplines run under IFSC, FAI or UIAA rules with certified equipment, judged routes or scored tasks. Safety protocols, belay standards and pilot licensing are enforced by the federation and, for air sports, by the DGCA.

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 paragliding squad or competition.

Lead / boulder / speed (climbing)
The three Olympic sport-climbing disciplines with different scoring.
Pilot & tandem pilot (air disciplines)
Competitive and instructional pilot roles.
Expedition & alpine roles
Lead climber, guide, high-altitude porter and base-camp manager.

Equipment

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

UIAA/EN-certified rope, harness, helmet, belay device, quickdraws, cams and nuts (climbing)
Certified wing, harness, reserve parachute, radio and instruments (paragliding)
Boots, crampons, ice axe, tent and expedition kit (mountaineering)
First-aid, rescue and communication kit
Site-appropriate transport and shuttle

Governing body

National federation

Aero Club of India

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

Origin: 1980s
Olympic: No
Category: Adventure

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Major Indian Events

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

Aero Club of India Senior National Championship
The primary domestic paragliding 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 — Paragliding
India's largest multi-sport scouting platform; medallists become eligible for KIA stipends and boarding at accredited centres.
National Games of India — Paragliding
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 paragliding.

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 paragliding.
World Championships
The senior world title event of the international federation — the peak of the paragliding calendar outside the Olympic year.

Leagues

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

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International Players

Globally recognised paragliding athletes to know outside India.

Janja Garnbret (Slovenia)
Olympic and multi-time World sport-climbing champion.
Adam Ondra (Czech Republic)
First climber to redpoint 9c; multiple World titles.
Kilian Jornet (Spain)
Trail-running and skimo world champion; multiple FKTs.

Records

Where to find India's official paragliding record book.

Olympic medalsN/A
Paragliding 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 paragliding are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the Aero Club of India.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in paragliding 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 paragliding 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 paragliding — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

Athlete on the national climbing / paragliding / mountaineering team
IFSC route setter, UIAA-certified mountain guide and IFMGA-track professional
Instructor and expedition leader
Rescue professional and mountain medicine specialist
Adventure-tourism operator and outdoor-gear retail
Judge and technical official at national and world events

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Related academies

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Government Schemes

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

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FAQs

Common questions about paragliding in India.

Who governs Paragliding in India?▾

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

Is Paragliding an Olympic sport?▾

Paragliding 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 Paragliding 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 Paragliding 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 Paragliding?▾

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 Paragliding 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.

Paragliding in every state & UT

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

Paragliding