Thai kids sky-high after landing awards at Asian origami plane contest

The “JAL Origami Plane Asian Competition” was held for the first time in Okinawa, with children from Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau and Thailand having participated. They competed for the longest and the furthest flights of their paper aircraft.
A boy from Klong Khun Sri primary school in Nonthaburi, Sanpaya Kaennak, was the winner in the primary-level category as his origami plane flew the furthest distance and achieved the longest time in the air – at 40.9 metres and 15.6 seconds, respectively.

Photo from: Thaipaperairplane's Facebook fanpage
Meanwhile, the stateless youngster, 18-year-old Cherd Gimsoi, a Mathayom 6 student from Klongyai Wittayahom in Trat, managed to grab the first runner-up award for flying a plane for the longest time in the general-person category.
He also teamed up with his fellows to win the top prize in the team-match category. 
In the general-person category, another Thai kid, Watcharin Chaiyayong from Ban Kang School in Mukdahan province, managed to land the top award with a tournament best in the category, with his plane being airborne for 22.4 seconds.
Rawin Raviwongse, director of the National Science Museum of Thailand, which supported the youngsters taking part in the event, said Cherd had almost missed out on the competition due to his stateless status. 
However, the museum managed to secure a travel document for him, resulting in his becoming the second stateless kid to be able to take part in the contest, the director said. 

Photo from: Thaipaperairplane's Facebook fanpage
Years ago, Mong Thongdee, a stateless child living in Chiang Mai and then-champion in Thailand’s origami plane competition, also most missed out, before eventually being secured a place with the help of concerned agencies.
“Thai kids’ talents are notable, as they manage to solve immediate problems while using their imagination and creativity to get their paper planes to fly in Japanese air,” Rawin said.