GEORGE TOWN: The hard work of 24 students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) paid off when they clinched 80 medals at the recent World Robot Games (WRG) 2025 in Taiwan.
For 13-year-old K. Sachein, the result came from eight years of building, coding and debugging robots, a journey that began when he was five.
The Assumption International Secondary School student collected six medals on his own, including gold in the 4x4 Soccer category.
Preparations, he said, stretched over more than half a year of long weekends spent fine-tuning his machines.
“I started learning to build robots when I was five. It has been a challenging but rewarding journey.
“Every challenge comes with a solution but there’s no single way to do it. These obstacles helped me improve my programming and technical skills.
“The WRG was an event I have been looking forward to all my life. Winning six medals was a surprise and the ultimate reward for me, my family and the team,” he said.
Sachein also took silver in W3 Soccer, bronze in another 4x4 Soccer event and bronze medals in AI Innovation, Sumo Junior and Sumo RC.
The week-long event in Taipei came with its own hurdles.
“Language was a barrier, so we had to make extra effort to understand and communicate strategies.
“The events were held across different venues this year with back-to-back matches to rush between. Fortunately, we managed well.”
His mother, secondary school teacher S. Yogeswary, 42, said his dedication had made the family proud and encouraged his 10-year-old sister to take up robotics.
“WRG sharpened his technical mastery and strengthened his problem-solving mindset.
“Competing under international pressure taught him discipline and innovation, and these experiences have positioned him well for future scientific work,” she said.
Syscore Academy founder and managing director G. Kalitzan, whose academy trained the team, said the medal haul reflected the students’ commitment and growing strength in STEM education.
The academy began with local competitions in 2012 and expanded to international meets in 2023.
“Simulated environments and regular competitions helped prepare them for high-pressure situations. The results show how far they have come.”
Malaysia’s performance at WRG has steadily improved.
In 2024, the team earned podium finishes in programming, a Sumo Robot championship and a top-10 innovation project.
Penang Tamil schools special committee chairman Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo, who welcomed the victors when they returned at Penang International Airport recently, congratulated them on surpassing last year’s achievement.
“Their confidence and determination reflect the growing capabilities of young Malaysians in robotics and global technology,” he said.
The inaugural WRG in 2015 was held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Organised by the non-profit World Robot Games Association, the competition aims to promote robotics and STEM education among youth.
