Serbian and Chinese share paragliding accuracy lead at World Air Games

Paragliding accuracy competition continued on the third day of the Games ©Facebook/FAI World Air Games Dubai 2015

Serbia’s Goran Djurkovic and China’s Qiang Ma are tied for the lead of the paragliding accuracy competition at the World Air Games after a series of impressive performances at the beach dropzone in Dubai.

Djurkovic had topped the standings after the opening day of action after landing one and two centimetres short of the target in the first two rounds.

With 18 other rivals vying for top spot the Serbian was always likely to come under pressure to maintain his lead and, after missing by 5 centimres in the first of three attempts of the day, he slipped down the leaderboard and was replaced temporarily by Thailand’s Tanapat Leangaiem.

China’s Ma though proved to be the star performer as he had made up for a mixed start to the event when he missed by 22cm before landed precisely on the target, he scored 2cm, 2cm, 3cm to soar to the top of the standings.

In accordance with World Air Sports Federation (FAI) rules the gliders worst score after five rounds are discarded with Ma and Djurkovic occupying first place with a total of 7cm.

Defending champion Matjaz Feraric recovered from a poor first day to move into third place, with the Slovenian joined by Romania’s George Cotet.

There is plenty of time for the standings to shift with the event, one of 23 at the Games, due to continue until December 10.

The World Air Games Opening Ceremony was held on the United Arab Emirates National Day ©Facebook

Meanwhile French pilots Olivier Masurel and Aude Lemordant are among the early favourites to claim gold in the powered aerobatics event.

Lemordant, the only woman in the field, was deemed to be one of the most impressive performers in the opening flights of the event which encourages accuracy and precision, as well as flamboyant flying.

The competitions came the day after the official Opening Ceremony of the Games, where an audience of around 3,000 witnessed dancing, zip-line performances and fireworks at the Skydive Dubai dropzone.

Held as part of the United Arab Emirates National Day celebrations, the ceremony presented an insight into the history and culture of the host nation, while focusing on their future ambitions.