Paragliding sports stopped after death of glider Thapa

By Pramod Joshi, Pokhara, Oct. 16: For the first time in the four-decade-long history of Nepal's National Games, a player has died during the games.

The third day of the 9th National Games turned into a tragic day after paragliding player Nissim Thapa Magar died falling off the glider at Sarangkot, Pokhara on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Magar representing Nepal Army was competing in the cross-country event of the Paragliding on Sunday morning at 11:30 AM. He was playing for Army under contract.

According to the District Police Office Kaski, 26-year-old Nepal Army player Nissim lost his life when he fell on the ground from a height below 100 meters. He was playing for TAC under contract.

Kaski Police Spokesperson DSP Sundar Tiwari said Thapa was rescued and rushed to the hospital for treatment. Doctors there declared him dead at 12:45 PM, informed DSP Tiwari.

After the death of Thapa, all the events of the Paragliding under the 9th National Games have been cancelled for an indefinite period. General Secretary of Nepal Paragliding and Hang Gliding Association Shailendra Raut said all the events of the paragliding sports have been stopped as per the directives from the National Sports Council.

Paraglider Magar was a title contender in his event, said the Nepal Army's paragliding team manager Suman GC. He is the FAI-ranked player.

GC informed that Thapa was leading the point on the first day and finished at the 8th on the second day of his event. "Today's result could have decided his medal but unfortunately, the accident put the whole Paragliding family in shock," GC said.

Thapa was the silver medalist during the 8th National Games when Army won six out of eight gold medals.

He fell off from a low height and collapsed to the ground while auto-rotating to take off the flight, informed the APF Team Coach Surendra Gurung. "After taking two rotations, his glide fell off and collapsed to the flat ground near the under-construction apartment building."

The eyewitness Gurung was taking the role of wind dummy (finding out which way the air is flowing) when Thapa collapsed to the ground four/five minutes after taking the flight.

"He could have been rescued from an extra emergency parachute had he been able to take his glide above the minimum height. Unfortunately, he was just taking the glide and has not taken enough height."

Gurung recalled that Thapa was most excited about the event. "He even worked hard for it. He is the one who keeps the score of paragliding and makes updates to the international paragliding association."

Thapa, who hails from Gorkha and lives temporarily in Pokhara, is an FAI-ranked player. FAI is the governing body of world paragliding. Unmarried Thapa is a single child of his parents.