SEPANG: A Malaysian team comprising 92 young talents brought honour to the country by winning five medals at the 23rd Robot Challenge World Championship held in Beijing on Aug 8 and 9.
The team won five medals in four categories - Puck Collector Junior (gold and bronze), Puck Collector Senior (silver), Robobowling Senior (gold) and Freestyle Junior (bronze) - an improvement from last year's performance of only two medals.
World of Robotics Sdn Bhd (World of Robotics) Project Director Michelle Choo said all participants, aged between nine and 18, competed in the international championship, which brought together more than 5,000 participants and robotics enthusiasts from over 40 countries.
"These students had previously competed in the World of Robotics Championship. After that competition, we provided them with intensive training as preparation, and I believe they were all well prepared to face the challenges in Beijing," she told reporters upon arriving from Beijing at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 here today.
The Malaysian team's success in Beijing not only reflected the ability of local students to compete on the international stage, but also demonstrated that continuous efforts to develop young talent in robotics could produce achievements that make the country proud, she added.
Meanwhile, World of Robotics chairman Zainuren Mohd Nor said the participants' national spirit was evident as they came from diverse ethnic backgrounds and competed under one "Malaysian umbrella" in Beijing.
"They were not merely competing, but we were also building a very strong sense of patriotism. They became very close, like siblings, and received tremendous support from their parents.
"I also believe that through students' involvement in robotics, they will develop an interest in learning STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the future," he said.
The Puck Collector Junior gold medal was won by Che Raeesa Che Rostami, Anaqi Azizi Asnur and Wan Umar Wan Azlan, while Cheong Zhen Hao, Lee Jian Kai and Yap Yu Min won gold in Robobowling Senior.
The Puck Collector Senior silver medal was won by Elijah Shreyash Nair and Muhammad Irfan Rizqi Roseaidy, while Cheah Cheng You, Keith Chan and S Avighna Sivam won bronze in Puck Collector Junior.
M Nethish Sharmaa and Muhammad Raffan Aqhyaar Mohd Nafis won bronze in the Freestyle Junior category.
Several participants also shared their excitement and experiences representing Malaysia at the international championship, with some competing outside the country for the first time.
Nethish Sharmaa, 11, said it was his first overseas competition and an unforgettable experience.
"This is my first time competing and I will win gold next time. Thanks to my partner (Muhammad Raffan Aqhyaar) and the entire team," he said.
Che Raeesa, 12, said the competition taught her about teamwork and the importance of compromise when working in a group. - Bernama
