Team Singapore Overcomes Adversity to Strike Gold in World Indoor Skydiving Championships

Singapore's indoor skydiving team has triumphed at the 2025 FAI World Championships in Charleroi, Belgium, securing four medals despite a shocking burglary of their accommodation mid-competition

PHOTO: iFLY SINGAPORE

Charleroi, Belgium, 28 April 2025 – Singapore's indoor skydiving team has triumphed at the 2025 FAI World Championships in Charleroi, Belgium, securing four medals despite a shocking burglary of their accommodation mid-competition.

On April 25th, athletes returned from the competition venue to find their residence ransacked and belongings stolen, forcing them to relocate to a hotel during the championships. Rather than derailing their performance, the team channeled this adversity into motivation.

World Champions in 4-Way Dynamic

Singapore claimed gold in the Dynamic 4-Way event after a thrilling final against Switzerland. When the match went to a tie-breaker, Team Singapore maintained a decisive 10-second advantage despite both teams incurring penalties for errors. The gold medal performance by Kai Minejima-Lee, Vera Poh, Kyra Poh, and Choo Yi Xuan establishes Singapore as the premier nation in this technically demanding discipline.

"This gold means even more given what we had to overcome," said Kyra, who made a triumphant return to competition after being sidelined for more than a year due to injury. "The burglary incident could have derailed our focus, but instead, it brought us closer together. When the final went to a tie-breaker, we knew we had the mental strength to handle the pressure."

Vera Poh Wins Silver in Solo Speed Junior Championship

Vera Poh secured a silver medal in the Solo Speed Junior event, demonstrating exceptional technical precision in one of the sport's most demanding disciplines. Her performance in this individual event, combined with her contribution to the Dynamic 4-Way gold medal team, confirms her status as one of the top young talents in indoor skydiving.

"Speed events are all about focus and execution," said Vera. "After our experience with the burglary, I channeled that determination into my performance. I'm proud to contribute this silver medal to Team Singapore's total."

Kai Minjima-Lee Clinches Silver in Tight Finish in Freestyle Open

In the Freestyle Open category, Kai Minejima-Lee secured silver, finishing just 0.1 points behind Poland's Maja Kuczyńska. The 16-year-old, who remains the reigning 2024 World Cup champion, delivered a brilliant routine that showcased his trademark innovation.

"I gave everything in my routine and am proud to add a World Championship silver to my World Cup gold," said Kai. "Coming away with this medal after the challenges we faced makes it even more meaningful."

Team Firefly Claims Bronze in 2-Way Dynamic

Singapore's "Team Firefly" duo of Kyra Poh and Choo Yi Xuan claimed bronze in Dynamic 2-Way after edging out France by 0.02 seconds in a dramatic tie-breaker. "That mental resilience really helped us – especially in that tie-breaker where every hundredth of a second counted," said Yi Xuan. “Just being in a competition again as Team Firefly was also really special.”

Kyra’s return to competition after more than a year of injury rehabilitation made the medal even more significant, adding, "Coming back from such a long break and immediately winning medals at the world championships is incredibly rewarding."

PHOTO: iFLY SINGAPORE

Jordan Lee Places 11th in World Championship Freestyle Open Debut

Jordan Lee placed 11th in his World Championship freestyle debut, gaining valuable experience at the elite level, in a field of 23 athletes from 18 nations.

Lawrence Koh, CEO of iFly Singapore, praised the squad: "What these athletes demonstrated goes far beyond their technical abilities. The mental strength they showed in putting aside such a distressing incident and continuing to perform at world-class level is truly remarkable."

Singapore's four-medal haul builds upon their exceptional 2024 season and confirms their status as a global powerhouse in indoor skydiving.

Team Singapore Athletes and Medal Summary:

Kai Minejima-Lee (16): Gold in Dynamic 4-Way; Silver in Freestyle Open

Vera Poh (16): Gold in Dynamic 4-Way; Silver in Solo Speed Junior

Kyra Poh (22): Gold in Dynamic 4-Way; Bronze in Dynamic 2-Way

Choo Yi Xuan (23): Gold in Dynamic 4-Way; Bronze in Dynamic 2-Way

Jordan Lee (20): 11th place in Freestyle debut

About Indoor Skydiving: Indoor skydiving is performed in a vertical wind tunnel generating winds up to 300 km/h. The sport features various disciplines, including artistic Freestyle, technical Speed routines, and team events such as Dynamic 2-Way and 4-Way. #TeamSingapore #IndoorSkydiving #WorldChampionships