Agra, Aug 20 (TNN): India ODI cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, also an honorary lieutenant colonel, became the first sportsperson, on Wednesday, to para jump from a military transport An-32 aircraft, successfully completing the first jump as part of his training with the elite Para regiment of the Indian Army.

Dhoni had been undergoing training at the Paratroopers Training School (PTS) here since August 6. According to Army officials, he jumped with a canopy static line parachute at around 7:30 am, making a smooth touchdown at Malpura para dropping zone along with a dozen other paratroopers in training.

According to a senior official, who wished not to be named, "To be a qualified parajumper, Dhoni has to undergo the required number of jumps under the supervision of instructors of PTS here."

"He underwent two weeks of thorough ground training required to gain physical and mental fitness along with fellow paratroopers. The training helped him to learn some basic techniques of para-jumping and to be prepared for jerks and jolts while jumping from an IAF aircraft," he added.

To qualify for the coveted parachute wings -a badge with blue wings and an umbrella -Dhoni has to complete a total of five jumps, including one at night, from an average height of 15,000 feet. Initially commissioned in the Territorial Army along with Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra in 2011, Dhoni became part of India's elite force (106 Infantry Battalion TA Para) in 2014, a special force entrusted to carry out operations beyond enemy lines.

Dhoni had earlier said that he had a choice of four regiments but he chose the paras because he felt he would be able to contribute more towards it.