On September 6, Wuhu in Anhui Province buzzed with excitement as the Yangtze River Delta drone soccer invitational tournament kicked off.
Tech-savvy teams from across the region came out to pilot drones in a high-flying twist on soccer. A total of 12 teams comprising 150 players from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Shanghai brought their A-game to the field.
Unlike traditional soccer, this cross-border sport challenges pilots to navigate quadcopters through goal hoops, scoring points for precision, speed, and strategic teamwork. Early data shows an average flight time of 90 seconds per round and 4.5 goals per match, underscoring both the pace and accessibility of this emerging spectacle.
"Drone soccer brings together engineering skills and athletic spirit," said one participant. "We’re not just playing; we’re pushing the boundaries of drone technology in a team setting."
Beyond competition, the tournament fosters regional collaboration, with teams exchanging tactics, sharing best practices, and sparking conversations about the future of sports and technology in the Yangtze River Delta.
As spectators cheered and drones zoomed overhead, Wuhu embraced its role as the epicenter of a new sporting frontier. With more matches on the horizon, competitors and fans alike are already imagining where drone soccer will take off next.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
