On July 14th, at Sanya Bay Mangrove Resort World, the 2026 China AOPA Drone Football Challenge concluded with its final events—the FPV Speed Flight Showdown, Hollow Cup Group, and Brushless Power Group finals took turns on stage. Over 100 teams and nearly a thousand pilots showcased their speed and skill, bringing this “air F1” event to a perfect close.

The FPV Extreme Flight Show circuit features strategically arranged sharp turns and obstacle gates, creating a highly challenging three-dimensional racing track. Pilots wear first-person view goggles to precisely control their drones, executing high-speed launches, low-altitude dives, continuous directional changes, and obstacle crossings—all within milliseconds. Large screens on the venue display real-time immersive flight footage, delivering spectators an unparalleled “air F1” racing experience.

The final adopted a five-round points system, with the four qualified players competing fiercely. SCHAPPER MARVIN VALERIO from Switzerland, despite making a mistake in the first round, demonstrated steady mental composure and exceptional skill to accumulate 15 points across the subsequent four rounds, ultimately turning the tide to claim the championship. The determination of the runner-up and third-place finisher remained highly uncertain; after the main competition concluded, South Korean player Minseo and China’s Liu Quanliang both had 11 points tied, prompting the judges to immediately initiate a one-on-one overtime match.

In the end, Minseo claimed the silver medal, Liu Quanliang took bronze, and Wang Zerui from Luoyang Kufei Drone Club finished fourth. The Shanghai Aviation Sports Association swept all three top spots in the event, demonstrating exceptional overall strength. After winning the championship, MARVIN VALERIO remarked, “The track was outstanding—wide and professional, and this coastal city is truly beautiful; I thoroughly enjoyed the competition.”

The final of the drone football hollow cup category was equally thrilling. The Shanghai Sidimeng Little Flying Hero Club secured the championship by defeating Wuhan Luobo Flying Team 1 with a decisive 2-0 victory, thanks to their solid defense and relentless offensive play. Hui Feiying Club Team 2 claimed third place, while Nanning Aviation Model Sports Association Team 2 finished fourth. Pan Juncheng, a member of the winning team, stated post-match that the intense multi-round elimination matches significantly enhanced the team’s stress resilience and tactical execution capabilities, adding that winning the title was the best reward for their teamwork and rigorous training.

The brushless power group final witnessed a remarkable comeback. The Hui Feiying Club from Suzhou, trailing in the first half of the third game, suddenly surged ahead in the second half to score 77–68, turning the tide and claiming the championship. All three pilots on this winning team were only 10,11, and 12 years old respectively, yet they demonstrated exceptional tactical execution at such a young age. Team One of the Nanning Aeronautical Model Sports Association secured the silver medal, Team Two of Dongguan Chang’an Town Experimental Primary School took the bronze, and the Beijing Aohang Team finished fourth. Hang Lirong, the brushless category champion, shared excitedly: “After persisting in training for over a year and refining my skills day after day, winning the title made me feel that all my efforts were worthwhile.”

During the award ceremony, winners from each category took the stage in sequence: the first, second, and third places in the Extreme Flight Performance Competition were presented by Gao Yongqing, Chairman of Yinen (Hainan) UAV Technology Co., Ltd.; the top three winners in the Hollow Cup Group (brushed model) were awarded by Zhao Zhubao, General Secretary of the Youth Aviation Education Branch of the China Aeronautical Association; while the first, second, and third places in the Brushless Group received their trophies and congratulations from Zhang Jun, Deputy Secretary-General of AOPA.

Statistics show that over 65% of participants in this year’s competition are teenagers, ranging in age from 6 to 35 years. With a total prize pool of 300,000 yuan, each individual champion receives 50,000 yuan. The event covers major domestic regions including the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, and Sichuan-Chongqing region, while also attracting competitors from six countries such as Switzerland, South Korea, and Australia.

Chu Fu, General Manager of Wingneng (Hainan) UAV Technology Co., Ltd., summarized the event with three key themes: “technology, professionalism, and coastal appeal.” He noted that the number of participants and their diverse backgrounds far exceeded expectations; while Sanya has traditionally focused on coastal tourism, the introduction of low-altitude aerial competitions this time deeply integrates technology with cultural tourism, potentially opening up new opportunities for the local tourism market.

He revealed that the plan aims to establish regular event hosting by 2026, organizing competitions annually over the next decade while progressively enhancing international standards. The ultimate goal is to leverage these events as a catalyst to attract resources from the low-altitude aviation industry and foster industrial clustering in Sanya.