IDNtribune.com – The Indonesian and Thai paragliding teams are locked in an intense battle for the top position at the 2024 Asian League Paragliding Accuracy competition. The event, held in SkyLancing, Mekarsari Village, Praya Barat District, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), has reached its third day.

As of the fourth round of accuracy rankings, recorded on Monday, July 8, 2024, at 09:04 WIB, two Indonesian athletes are in the top five overall. Rizky Maulana from Indonesia holds the first position, followed by Phipatpong Sudthoop from Thailand in second place. Irvan Winarya, also from Indonesia, is in third, with Zueesyam Ros from Malaysia and Abdalla Naser from the United Arab Emirates filling out the top five.

Roy Rahmanto, the head organizer of the 2024 Asian League Paragliding Accuracy event in Lombok, NTB, expressed optimism about Indonesia’s chances of securing the top spot in the championship.

In the U26 category, Indonesian athlete Rizky Maulana continues to dominate, holding first place. He is trailed by Phipatpong Sudthoop from Thailand, Zueesyam Ros from Malaysia, Abdalla Naser from the UAE, and Yuda Maisa Putra from Indonesia.

“Our athletes are showing exceptional skills in the under-26 category,” said Roy.

In the Female Paraglider category, two Thai athletes lead the rankings, while Indonesia’s Rira Nurhakim is in third place, followed by two athletes from China in fourth and fifth.

“So far, based on the provisional scores, the Indonesian paragliding team is performing admirably. We hope this consistency continues until the end of the competition,” said Asgaf Umar, Chairman of the Indonesian Paragliding Committee of the Indonesian Aero Sport Federation (FASI), on Monday evening.

Roy added that in the Team category, Indonesia has claimed the top spot, previously held by Thailand. Thailand has moved to second place, followed by Malaysia and China.

“If the wind conditions permit, the championship could be extended to 12 rounds to achieve maximum scoring across all categories. However, this depends on the wind conditions. Reports from the field indicate wind speeds reaching 7 meters per second or 25 kilometers per hour, allowing for up to three rounds per day,” added Asgaf Umar, who is closely monitoring the championship.

Meanwhile, residents of Lombok, Mandalika, Mataram, and the surrounding areas are encouraged to watch the championship live, free of charge. ***