Swiss pilot Michael Kuffer wins AAI Paragliding World Cup

Michael Kuffer finished second in the final Task, but emerged as the champion of AAI Paragliding World Cup here.

Bir Billing, Himachal: Swiss pilot Michael Kuffer finished a close second in the final Task on Saturday but emerged as the overall champion of AAI Paragliding World Cup here.

The 26-year-old Kuffer finished a mere 14 seconds behind Mexican Manuel Quintanilla but his steady performances in the earlier tasks ensured the overall honours.

The women's overall crown was claimed by Japan's Yuki Sato. Sato was second in the final task, which was won by the legendary Polish pilot Klaudia Bulgakow.

It was Kuffer's first World Cup win and the young pilot from the German-speaking area in Switzerland was overjoyed with his success. His best finish in a World Cup prior to this win was a third place finish in his home country Switzerland, as he was third at Dissentis World Cup earlier this year.

En route to his win in the AAI Paragliding World Cup, he beat the in-form Xevi Bonet of Spain, legendary French pilots, Julien Wirtz and Maxime Pinot, both former World Number 1s, and Slovenia's Jurij Vidic, another former World No. 1.