Kuching school makes a mark in World Robots Olympiad

KUCHING: Fifty teachers and parents of SMK Kuching High students gathered at Kuching International Airport (KIA) on Tuesday night to welcome home the heroes for winning the bronze in the ‘World Robots Olympiad 2015’ held in Doha, Qatar, from Nov 5 to 9.

Led by their teachers Tan Kim Lim and Kang Suat Hua, the school team comprising Science students Brandon Tan, Chai Min Qi, Josiah Yang and Bryan Tan, landed here at 8pm.

Applauses and cheers greeted the team that called themselves ‘Silent Prodigies’ when they came out from the arrival hall.

School principal Tan Kiang Tuang said the team was among other teams from Malaysia competing in the world level competition, and won third place.

“A total of 43 countries took part in the competition, and we won third place in the open category for upper secondary school level. I am very proud of them and am very happy,” he told reporters.

Russian won first place in the open category for upper secondary school category followed by Taipei (second place), Malaysia (third place) and Germany (fourth place).

Tan said when he received the good news on Sunday (Nov 8) afternoon, he immediately informed everyone including the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), board of management and the Teochew Association.

According to a post by Education Minister Dato Seri Mahdzir Khalid in social media, Malaysia was Overall Champion with three gold, two bronze and two excellent awards. This was the fifth time Malaysia won the competition.

Tan said the school thanked all their financial sponsors and supporters, among them Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem who gave RM10,000, Sarawak Foundation (RM5,000), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Senator Professor Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian (RM5,000), State Education Department, Teochew Association, Kuching High School Board of Management, the ParentTeacher Association (PTA), Ex-Highians Association, Dato’ Wee Song Ching from Awi Builder Sdn Bhd, Raymond Sim Hee Pang from Polarwood Sdn Bhd, Kuching High School Board of Management president Cho Hiang, and individual sponsor Lim Poi Ngee.