CHENGDU, April 15 (Xinhua) -- The inaugural World Drone Games, underway in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, have once again focused global attention on the country's fast-growing low-altitude economy.

By merging cutting-edge drone technology with competitive sports, the event offers the world a glimpse into the future direction of unmanned aerial systems and creates a global stage for low-altitude innovation.

The event, running from April 11 to 25 across three competition zones in the city, has attracted over 800 teams from around the world, including 30 international squads from Russia, Myanmar, Cameroon, Pakistan, Tanzania and other countries and regions.

Co-hosted by the China Communications Industry Association and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), the Games feature four innovative disciplines: drone weightlifting, fencing, equestrian and basketball.

"Promoting industrial development through competition is the key," said Huang Bo, an official of the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Economic and Information Technology, who is in charge of the aerospace industry division.

The Games combine drones' core capabilities such as transport capacity, perception and control and air-ground integration with competitive, testable and showcase events, comprehensively evaluating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology and application levels, Huang added.

A NEW FRONTIER IN DRONE COMPETITION

At the competition venue in the Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, events such as drone weightlifting, fencing and basketball were held in succession. Participating teams demonstrated key technologies such as flight control algorithms, structural testing and coordinated control, showcasing cutting-edge achievements in low-altitude intelligent control and overall system stability.

Among the events, drone fencing has drawn the largest crowds. In the qualifying rounds, teams had three minutes to puncture stationary low-altitude balloons and moving high-altitude ones. Only tip strikes from the drones' mounted "swords" counted. The knockout rounds transform the challenge into a true aerial duel.

At the fencing arena, the whir of rotors fills the air as two drones hover face to face, each carrying a balloon on its frame. On the referee's signal, they close in rapidly. A sudden feint, a sharp pivot and a direct thrust -- pop! The burst balloon sends a ripple of cheers through the audience.

"This event tests perception and control coordination in real combat conditions," said Qin Haibo, a fencing referee. "It's a practical validation of intelligent sensing algorithms and precision control capabilities."

Fang Liyong, director of the academic competition center at UESTC's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, noted that the competition rules were jointly developed by the sports, industry and academic sectors, blending international standards with real-world enterprise needs and university curricula.

A GLOBAL STAGE FOR EXCHANGE

The event has brought together university teams, enterprises and young tech enthusiasts from around the globe. A Russian student at UESTC, who goes by the Chinese name Chen Guang, formed an international team with classmates from Panama and Saudi Arabia to compete in the drone basketball event.

"The atmosphere is fantastic. Besides competing, we get to exchange ideas and learn from each other," Chen said.

Wu Kaifeng, a sophomore from the Chengdu Vocational and Technical College of Industry, took part in the drone weightlifting competition, noting that the Games are fun and provide a great platform for learning and exchange.

"We've been practicing for months. The hardest part is synchronizing the two drones. It's a dual challenge to the carrying capacity of the flight platform and the precision of coordinated control," said Wu after completing one trial lift.

INDUSTRY SCALE FUELS THE TAKE-OFF

Behind the spectacle lies a robust industrial ecosystem. According to Huang Bo, Chengdu has gathered over 1,000 upstream and downstream enterprises in the aviation manufacturing sector, with the industry reaching an output value of nearly 140 billion yuan (about 20.41 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025. The city's UAV manufacturing industry alone comprises more than 200 enterprises.

"These events correspond to core capabilities like heavy-load transportation, precision inspection and coordinated operations," said Dong Feixiang, operations director at Chengdu JOUAV Automation Technology Co., Ltd., a local drone manufacturer that serves as a "technology observer" at the Games.

"They accelerate flight control algorithm optimization and hardware stress testing, pushing technology from the lab into complex real-world environments. The events also serve as a window for companies to identify top-tier multidisciplinary talent," Dong added.

During the Games, an industry matchmaking session was also held, facilitating a signed agreement between UESTC and a Chengdu investment group, which aims to deepen industry-academia-research integration.

Nationally, China's low-altitude economy is projected to reach 1.5 trillion yuan by 2025 and grow to 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035, according to forecasts from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The Games will continue in phases. On April 18, low-altitude intelligent control events will take place at a local airport, followed by the drone equestrian competition at an ecological park on April 25. ■