Team Singapore steal the show at World Indoor Skydiving C'ships despite break-in
On April 25, the athletes were shocked to find their place ransacked, forcing them to relocate to a hotel midway through the April 24-27 competition.
But rather than let the harrowing experience affect them, the skydivers regrouped with Kyra Poh teaming up with her younger sister Vera, Choo Yi Xuan and Kai Minejima-Lee to claim the dynamic four-way open title.
Kai, 16, added a silver in the solo freestyle open event, while Poh and Choo showed their chemistry is still intact with a dynamic two-way open bronze in their first competition since 2018.
Vera, also 16, snatched a silver in the solo speed junior category, while the remaining member of the Singapore contingent, Jordan Lee, was placed 11th in the solo freestyle open event on his world championships debut.
A spokesperson for iFly Singapore, an indoor skydiving facility in Sentosa where the skydivers train, confirmed the burglary took place but declined to reveal further details when contacted by The Straits Times.
Poh, making her return to competition after a year-long hiatus due to an ankle injury, was delighted to add to the solo freestyle open gold she won at the 2023 world meet.
"Coming back from such a long injury break and immediately winning medals at the world championships is incredibly rewarding," said the 22-year-old, Singapore's only Red Bull-sponsored athlete.
Hailing the support of the team during her recovery from the injury, Poh added: "It feels amazing to be competing again at the highest level."
The gold was especially satisfying as Singapore avenged their loss to Switzerland at the world meet two years ago with a decisive victory.
"To come back this year and win... against the same Switzerland team, made all the daily training worthwhile," said Choo, who was in the 2023 team who won a bronze.
The 23-year-old also marked her reunion with Poh for the "Team Firefly" partnership by edging out France by just 0.2 seconds in a dramatic tiebreak for the dynamic two-way open bronze.
Choo Yi Xuan and Kyra Poh, also known as "Team Firefly", competed for the first time together since 2018. PHOTO: MARAT DAMINOV
"Reuniting with Yi Xuan after my injury and immediately getting back on the podium feels amazing," said Poh.
For Kai, the solo freestyle open champion at the World Cup in 2024, it was another close call as he finished a mere 0.1 point behind Poland's Maja Kuczynska.
"I gave everything in my routine and am proud to add a world championships silver to my World Cup gold," said the teenager.
"The margin of 0.1 point shows just how competitive this field is."
Kai Minejima-Lee (left) won the silver medal in the solo freestyle open event. PHOTO: MARAT DAMINOV
Vera also showed her potential after losing by a mere 0.985sec to Sofya Pauzin of France in the solo speed junior category.
"Speed events are all about focus and consistency," said the 16-year-old.
"We are flying at speeds of 280kmh which means there is hardly a split second to think when I'm in the tunnel.
"I've been working on perfecting every move and the transitions between patterns and I'm proud to contribute this first silver medal for a solo speed event."
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