First two competition days bring intense action at 48th CISM World Military Parachuting Championship
BOĽKOVCE–LUČENEC (SVK) – Following the Opening Ceremony, competition is now in full swing at the 48th CISM World Military Parachuting Championship in Slovakia, with the first two competition days on Sunday 16 and Monday 17 August delivering high-level performances at Boľkovce Airport near Lučenec.
Bringing together 350 participants from 32 nations, the championship once again demonstrates the international strength of military parachuting, with athletes competing across accuracy landing, style and formation skydiving.
The CISM President, Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim Filho, is attending the championship as Official CISM Representative (OCR). Throughout the opening days of competition, the CISM President has been present alongside the athletes, officials, organisers and members of the CISM Parachuting Sports Committee, closely following the action and showing CISM's support for the military athletes representing their nations in Slovakia.
His presence also highlights the importance of parachuting within the CISM sports programme and the values of international friendship, mutual respect and solidarity that remain at the heart of CISM competitions.
Accuracy competition taking shape
After two days, the women's individual accuracy competition sees Monika Bekhit of Poland at the top of the provisional standings with a total of just two centimetres after two rounds. China's Yue Li and France's Maud Serve follow closely, both on three centimetres.
Poland has also moved to the top of the women's team accuracy standings. After two rounds, the Polish team leads with 32 centimetres, ahead of Italy on 42 and China on 49. Spain follows with 52, ahead of the Republic of Korea with 59.
The men's individual accuracy competition remains extremely tight. With the programme progressing at different rates among the competitors, several athletes had not yet completed the same number of rounds at the end of Monday's competition. Among those with two completed rounds, Ferenc Horváth of Hungary, Mathieu Guinde of France and Mathias Demmler of Germany were all on just one centimetre. Meanwhile, Qatar's Abdulaziz Ahmed and Saleh Al Abidi had completed a third round and stood on two centimetres.
The close margins underline the remarkable level of precision on display, with every centimetre potentially proving decisive as further rounds are completed.
Juniors make their mark
The junior categories have also provided strong performances during the opening two days.
In junior men's accuracy, Germany's Mathias Demmler provisionally leads with one centimetre after two completed rounds, followed by Hungary's Bálint Márk Szécsény on three. Austria's Michael Urban, who had already completed a third round, stood on four centimetres.
In the junior women's accuracy competition, Germany's Zoe Stoll leads after two rounds with 18 centimetres. Austria's Zoe Janko follows on 27, with Algeria's Kaouter Abeddaim third on 32.
Republic of Korea sets the pace in women's formation skydiving
The women's formation skydiving competition has already produced a clear early battle. After three rounds, the Republic of Korea leads the provisional classification with 54 points, having scored 21, 16 and 17 points across the opening rounds.
Brazil occupies second place with 42 points, while Spain is third with 20. Italy has so far recorded four points from two completed rounds.
In the men's formation competition, the standings remain at an earlier stage. Belgium produced the strongest score in the opening round with 38 points, ahead of the United States with 35, Spain with 29 and Türkiye with 28. Several nations had yet to record a score at the end of the second competition day, meaning the classification remains highly provisional.
More action to come in Slovakia
With several disciplines and categories progressing at different rates, the standings remain provisional after Day 2 and there is still a long way to go before the 2026 CISM World Military Champions are crowned.
Nevertheless, the opening two days have already showcased the precision, speed, concentration and teamwork required at the highest level of military parachuting, while providing spectators and delegations with an exciting start to the championship.
Competition will continue at Boľkovce Airport throughout the week, with further rounds in accuracy landing, style and formation skydiving gradually shaping the individual and team classifications.
The 48th CISM World Military Parachuting Championship continues until 23 August 2026, bringing together the international military parachuting community in Slovakia under CISM's motto, "Friendship through Sport."
Follow the competition and the latest live results:
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department – Pictures: Carsten Thiel)
