MAX UNFAZED BY TYPHOON

S'pore kitefoiler regains Asian crown despite challenging weather conditions, lost watch

- David Lee

Neither a typhoon nor a lost watch could throw off Maximilian Maeder, who remained composed to win the Formula Kite Asian Championships in Daishan, China, on Sept 22 for his second straight title since Paris 2024.

It was all in a couple of days' work for the 18-year-old, who reclaimed the Asian title he won in 2022 but lost to China's Huang Qibin in 2023.

He also received a winner's cheque for 9,800 yuan (S$1,800). Maeder, who claimed a historic Olympic kitefoiling bronze medal for Singapore in August, told The Straits Times: "It's very nice to be able to fight and get it back. To win in these tough conditions and with such strong competition makes it all the more sweet."

With the medal series on the final day called off because the winds were too strong, Maeder was declared the men's champion as he had topped the opening series with eight wins in 12 races.

The opening day of racing on Sept 19 had also been called off, with China Daily reporting that Typhoon Pulasan, "with the maximum wind force near its centre reaching 25m per second", had made landfall in Zheijang province, where Daishan is located.