SILVER SPURS MAEDER'S DESIRE

Kitefoiler seeks improvement after narrow defeat at world meet in Italy

- Melvyn Teoh

The race for a hat-trick of titles at the Formula Kite World Championships ended in disappointment for Maximilian Maeder on Oct 5, when the Singaporean finished second on the final day of competition.

At the Quartu Sant’Elena beach in Italy, Maeder missed out on gold to Italy’s eventual winner Riccardo Pianosi, while Frenchman Benoit Gomez claimed the bronze.

The 19-year-old told The Straits Times: “What a race... I’m disappointed indeed and it doesn’t feel great of course. But I don’t feel like I’m destroyed because this regatta is really well sailed by him (Pianosi).

“I felt like I had chances but didn’t use them... it’s moments like these when it will feel quite invigorating to try again, try and improve, to make sure next time it works out better.

“It is such a tight competition and battle all the time, it only shows the amount of effort people are putting in and getting better.

“This year, I wasn’t far away from winning it, perhaps one decision by another competitor, or one gust here, and I may have been in front.”

Paris Olympic bronze medallist Maeder had entered day five of the opening series in fourth, after a poor showing the previous day when he fell behind leader Pianosi, Switzerland’s Gian Stragiotti and Slovenian Toni Vodisek.