Malaysia Dominates 12th World Robot Olympiad for Fifth Time

Sepang (PNA/Bernama) — Malaysia emerged as the overall champion for the fifth time in seven years in the 12th World Robot Olympiad (WRO) after clinching three gold medals, two silver and two excellence awards.

Education Ministry Co-Curricular and Arts division director Rozainum Ahmad said the national contingent regained the overall title after finishing as the overall runners-up last year.

“We beat 43 other countries in this competition and we are very proud of this victory,” she told reporters after welcoming the return of the national contingent from Doha, Qatar at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here today.

In the competition held in Doha, Qatar from Nov 6-8, the Malaysian contingent comprising 19 teams involving 57 participants competed in seven events.

One of the gold medals was bagged by the YC Adventure Kidz from Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Yuk Chai, Petaling Jaya, in the Open Primary School category.

The second gold was won by the Robotist team from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan USJ 4, Subang Jaya in the Open Lower Secondary category.

The Aramaitee team from Kota Kinabalu Mara Junior Science College, Sabah bagged the third gold for Malaysia in the Gen II Football category.

YC Adventure Kidz representative Lim Yi Hang, 10, said his team were thrilled that their underwater exploration robot was announced as the gold medal winner.

“We hope that our invention can go further and be commercialised. We have also learned a lot of things in this competition and got the chance to meet with participants from other countries,” said Lim.

C. Jaimishran, 15, representing the Robotist team said his team took eight months to complete the project, which was designed to assist the duties and increase the level of safety of miners.

“Last year we took part and we didn’t win. WRO is a very tough competition, there are so many teams and a lot of great projects, but we worked hard and finally won,” he said.

Aramaitee team representative Zahin Arif Saiful Azian, 15, said their robot defeated Greece 5-3 at the final of the Gen II football category.

“We competed a number of times in the WRO but only made it to the quarterfinals, and this time we are very satisfied to bag the title,” he said. (PNA/Bernama) RMA/CDN