Tag Archives: FAI World Drone RAcing Championships

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Team Korea victorious at FAI World Drone Racing Championship 2019

Team Korea

The 2019 FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final was held at a dedicated drone-racing track, built especially for the competition in Xiangshan Ningbo, a coastal city in the south east of China about 300km from Shanghai.

16-year-old Korean drone pilot Changhyeon Kang is the new FAI World Drone Racing Champion in the Overall and Junior categories while 12-year-old Wanraya “Milk” Wannapong of Thailand successfully defended her title for the Women’s category.

Photo credit: FAI.org via AsiaFitnessToday.com

Australia’s Thomas Bitmatta, 20, in second place and French pilot Killian Rousseau, 15, came in third in the Overall category while Korean Siyun Park, 15, and Teng Ma, 34, of the USA in the Women’s category in the championship that took place at Ningbo, China from 11-14 December 2019.

Drone racing pilots from Korea, Australia and France dominated this year’s meet

Speaking at the event, Acting Secretary General of the FAI Markus Haggeney said: “Congratulations to all the medallists, particularly the Korean team on claiming gold medals in a total of three categories, and the impressive young Thai pilot Wanraya Wannapong, who is now an FAI World Champion for the second time at just 12 years old.

“And thanks to everyone who has played a part in making this FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final such an excellent competition. There has been a fantastic atmosphere throughout and the Aero Sports Federation of China (ASFC), the organiser Starmach, the city of Ningbo and all the officials and volunteers have done a great job.” 

Team Malaysia’s Amir Rijal and Amir Keri Jr.

The competition took place over four days:

  • 11 December: Model processing and practice flights
  • 12 December: Opening ceremony and qualifying rounds
  • 13 December: Elimination rounds
  • 14 December: Elimination rounds, finals, medal and closing ceremonies

Among the 112 participating pilots, 103 drone pilots, including 40 juniors and nine women, competed as part of 31 national teams. The other nine pilots competed as individuals.

Team Malaysia sent two drone pilots this year, Amir Rijal, 24 (ranked 93/111) and Amir Keri Jr., 20 (ranked 83/111).

The race track this year was inspired by the Bi-Fish, a traditional Chinese Tai Chi symbol

Pilots tested their skills on a three-level championship racetrack that was 4m wide and 6m high, with a total length of 630m. Called Bi-Fish, it was inspired by the traditional Chinese Tai Chi symbol, and the maritime culture of Xiangshan, Ningbo – a former fishing village – and included lots of sharp turns, 16 air gates, and a tunnel.

AsiaFitnessToday.com supported Team Malaysia as its Official Media Partner, and drone racing has been adopted as a Move8 Pro program for youth – getting young people outdoors and moving.

RESULTS

Overall

  1. KANG Changhyeon (KOR)
  2. BITMATTA Thomas (AUS)
  3. ROUSSEAU Killian (FRA)

Women

  1. WANNAPONG Wanraya (THA)
  2. PARK Siyun (KOR)
  3. MA Teng (USA)

Juniors

  1. KANG Changhyeon (KOR)
  2. KIM JaeJong (KOR)
  3. HEEPS Sam (AUS)

National teams

  1. Korea
  2. Australia
  3. China

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Tengku Abdillah (Malaysia) receives Compagnon D’Honneur award at 113th FAI General Conference, Lausanne

Video

AFT News Network // Lausanne, 8 December 2019 – Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, FAI – The World Air Sports Federation conferred the prestigious award of “Compagnon D’Honneur” to Malaysia’s Tengku Abdillah – Regional Vice President for East and South East Asia.

Tengku Abdillah (Malaysia) receiving the prestigious Companions of Honour award from FAI President, Bob Henderson (New Zealand)

In a phone interview, Tengku shared his excitement.

https://www.australiafitnesstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WhatsApp-Audio-2019-12-08-at-23.40.23-1.ogg
AFT speaks with Tengku Abdillah in Lausanne

When they mentioned my name, I was shocked and tears start coming from my eyes. I never never expected it, not at all. What I’ve done for FAI was just my passion and my love for airsports… After seven and a half years as regional Vice President of FAI, I’ve said that’s it, I’ve got to stop somewhere and end of this year, I’ll stop”.

“I started airsports by flying the aeromodelling aircraft with my son and a few of my friends. When the Department of Civil Aviation at that time decided to organise an air carnival, they wanted all activities of airsports to be there. A DCA representative contacted me, and I became the leader for aeromodelling… DCA was very happy, and after four air carnivals, they contacted me and mentioned that Tun Dr. Mahathir, the Prime Minister then asked to setup an Air Sports Federation. They gathered four disciplines; aeromodelling, parachuting, paragliding and hot air balloon and started the Malaysia Sport Aviation Federation. I was elected as MSAF President from 2012-2015 (correction: 2011-2015) and then concentrated on regional basis for the FAI, and then I was the one who initiated the AirSports Federation of Asia (AFA),”.

“Next year, I want to concentrate more time in Malaysia especially on drone, and eSports,”.

Photo credit: FAI / Marcus King

The 113th FAI General Conference took place in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 5 and 6 December 2019 and was attended by 110 delegates from Active, Associate, and Temporary Member Countries alongside International Affiliate Members, FAI elected Officers, Presidents of Honour, Companions of Honour, delegates appointed by Presidents of Commissions and Observers.

FAI COMPANIONS OF HONOUR

Tengku Abdillah (FAI Regional Vice President for East & Southeast Asia / Malaysia Sports Aviation Federation) and Dr John LANGFORD (National Aeronautic Association of the USA) were appointed FAI Companions of Honour by the Conference for their services to FAI.

Tengku Abdillah will join a team of two Malaysian pilots at the 2019 FAI World Drone Racing Championships in Xiangshan Ningbo, China next week from 11-14 December 2019. The championship, which attracts over 100 top drone racing pilots from around the world is a major highlight in the international drone-racing circuit.

What is the FAI?

The FAI was founded in 1905 and is a non-governmental and non-profit making international organisation with the basic aim of furthering aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide, ratifying world and continental records and coordinating the organisation of international competitions. It is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

AsiaFitnessToday is a proud media supporter of the Malaysian team once again, having supported the pilots at the inaugural 2018 World Drone Racing Championships held in Shenzhen last year. Drone racing is adopted as a Move8 movement program for youth empowerment. Find out more: www.move8.org.