AFT News Network // 21 January 2020 – Drone Racing pilot Wanraya Wannapong, 12, is one of the 25 candidates to compete in the online voting for The World Games Athlete of the Year 2019.
Female FAI World Drone Racing Champion 2019 – and 2018 – Wanraya, who goes by the name “Milk” when she is racing, is one of the youngest, and most successful competitive drone racers in the world.
The Thai schoolgirl, who lives in Bangkok with her parents, took up drone racing at just eight years of age. Stoic under pressure, she successfully defended her 2018 female title at the FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final 2019, held in Xiangshan Ningbo, China in December.
Her other victories include the 2018 China Drone Racing Open, held in Shenzhen, China in May 2018, where she was the overall winner.
Her overall goal is to become the overall FAI World Drone Racing Champion, a dream supported by her father, who practises with her in the family’s training field in Thailand.
And she certainly has the motivation to get there! “I fly every day, and all day when I am not at school,” Wanraya said.
This is the 6th time that the International World Games Association (IWGA) is running the race for the Athlete of the Year. The award honours an athlete or a team for their outstanding performance in 2019, or for their social commitment or particularly fair behaviour.
This year, voting began at 09:00 CET on 8th January and will end at 15:00 CET on Thursday 30th January 2020.
All candidates at 20 January 16:00 CET:
- Rani (Hockey, IND) 109,179
- Stanislav Horuna (Karate, UKR) 62,628
- Rhaea Stinn (Powerlifting, CAN) 29,689
- Janja Garnbret (Sport Climbing, SLO) 22,401
- Davide Donati & Michela Castoldi (Gymnastics, ITA) 20,739
- Armen Tsaturyan & Svetlana Gudyno (DanceSport, RUS) 14,946
- Mateus Kuntzler (Fistball, BRA) 11,922
- Team Finland (Flying Disc) 11,709
- U19 Team Czech Republic (Floorball) 11,652
- Sara Lopez (Archery, COL) 11,607
- Wanraya Wannapong (Air Sports, THA) 10,995
- Vladislav Tuinov (Kickboxing, RUS) 16 10,021
- Netherlands (Tug of War) 9,844
- Stacey Porter (Baseball/Softball, AUS) 9,698
- Christian Tissier (Aikido, FRA) 9,554
- Maria Rodriguez (Bowling, COL) 9,548
- Madison Copeland (Lacrosse, AUS) 9,412
- Paola Longoria (Racquetball, MEX) 9,411
- Nic Rapa (Waterski&Wakeboard, AUS) 9,300
- Katerina Mrazova (Roller Sports, CZE) 9,194
- Jimmy Vienot (Muaythai, FRA) 9,146
- Brazil (Beach Handball) 9,144
- Mads Pedersen (Canoe, DEN) 9,143
- Pavel Kabanov (Finswimming, RUS) 9,139
- Tove Alexandersson (Orienteering, SWE) 9,136
Visit this link to vote.
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 15-25 July 2021. 3,600 athletes from over 30 sports and 100 countries will take part in the Games.