A stateless student from Trat province has won an origami plane competition in Japan, following in the footsteps of previous winner Mong Thongdee, a stateless student who won the same competition eight years ago but to this day awaits a Thai ID card which state officials promised him.
Cherd Kimsoi, 18, from Klong Yai Witthayakom School's Mathayom 6, along with two Thai students, won first prize in the JAL Origami Plane Asian Competition held in Okinawa, Japan on Saturday and Sunday.
The other two students are Watcharin Chaiyayong from Ban Keng School in Mukdahan and Tawat Julsri from Pakmai Wittayanukul School in Si Sa Ket.
The first runner-up and second runner-up were from South Korea and Japan respectively.
Rawin Raviwongse, president of the National Science Museum, said the Thais put in an outstanding performance, winning several awards including two first prizes for junior student level in the category of long-distance flying, with the longest distance of 40.9 metres, and long-flying time of 15.63 seconds.
The winner of those two prizes was Sanpaya Kannak from Wat Klong Khunsri School in Nonthaburi province.
Mr Rawin said the competitors trained hard and were also helped by cooperation provided by various agencies.
Their talents have a solid grounding in science and dynamics which could be developed further in the future, he said.
Representatives from Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, Hong Kong Macao and Thailand joined the competition.
Mr Cherd, a stateless student, said he was thrilled to win the competition. He said he had almost missed out on competing given his lack of a citizenship document. A state agency helped him obtain a special permit to travel overseas.
Mong Thongdee won the prize in this competition eight years ago.
At that time, young Mong returned as a hero, his story widely reported by the media with many senior officials promising to give him Thai nationality.
Mr Mong is now 20, and studies drone pilot training in Chiang Mai. He is still waiting to get a Thai national citizenship document.
