KARSTEN MIRANDA
karsten@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Team India, comprising young students from across the country, including Goa, finished an impressive 4th overall at the prestigious FIRST Global Challenge 2024 (FGC), held from September 26-29 in Athens, Greece. The team also won the Zhang Heng Engineering Design Award (Bronze) for their innovative robot design.
Team India, consisting of Aarav Shah, Aarav Gupta, Arjun Kejriwal, Jayanee Shah, Aditi Shah, Arjun Kejriwal, Aryaman Kejriwal, Mann Parekh, Meher Choudhary, Neel Mistry from Mumbai and Sai Pranav Gandhi from Goa as team members, alongside mentors, Saieesh Gandhi from Goa and Nilesh Shah, Aadiv Shah and Parul Shah.
As the driver of the robot, Sai Pranav Gandhi, 15, a student of Sharada Mandir School, played a key role in the team’s success.
The FGC is an annual international robotics competition that gathers students from over 190 countries to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). This year’s theme, “Feeding the Future,” focused on global food security, with teams building robots to address issues surrounding the management of water, energy, and food systems.
Team India performed strongly with their alliance teams from Greece, Colombia, and Latvia, scoring 594 points in the semifinals, which secured their 4th-place finish.
Goan student Pranav reflected on the experience: “This competition has been incredible. We learned so much from other teams and made lifelong connections. FGC showed us how technology can solve real-world problems and make a positive impact.”
Mentor Saieesh, who previously led a Goan team at the 2023 FGC, provided vital guidance to this year’s Team India. “Mentoring Team India after leading a Goan team last year was an incredibly rewarding experience,” he said. “This achievement validates Goa’s growing role in competitive robotics, and I’m thankful to the Government of Goa for their support, especially through initiatives like the Coding and Robotics Education in Schools Scheme.” Team India’s robot design was a key factor in their success. The robot featured several innovative elements, including a Cascade Elevator for moving game pieces vertically and a Game Element Intake and Delivery system for managing water and energy resources. The bright orange colour of the robot, achieved through an industrial process called anodizing, became a talking point among participants. The robot’s design and functionality earned the team the Zhang Heng Engineering Design Award, which recognizes excellence in engineering and creativity.
Team India’s booth was a centre of attraction during the competition. Decorated with Indian garlands, posters, and banners detailing their journey, the booth was visited by dignitaries such as Dean Kamen, the founder of FIRST Global, and Peter H. Diamandis, founder of the X Prize. Both dignitaries suggested that India should consider hosting a future edition of the FGC, underscoring the team’s impact on the global stage. The road to Athens was not just about competition but also about advocacy. In the lead-up to the event, Team India worked to have robotics recognised as an official sport in India. The team submitted petitions to the Government of Goa, including meetings with CM Pramod Sawant, Director of Sports Arvind Khutkar, and Director of Education Shailesh Jingade.