Sarawak duo Matthew, Timothy Cheong win 2nd Place at World Robot Olympiad 2026 in Croatia

Matthew (second left) and Timothy (second right) win silver prize in the RoboMission Junior category at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2026 Open Championship Europe, held in Zagreb, Croatia.on Oct 16, 2026.

KUCHING, Oct 17: Two young Sarawakian students have made Malaysia proud by securing second place globally in the RoboMission Junior category at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2026 Open Championship Europe, held in Zagreb, Croatia.

Brothers Matthew Cheong and Timothy Cheong, both students at Borneo International School, represented the nation under team “Malaysia Boleh” and delivered an outstanding performance at the prestigious international robotics tournament.

Held from Oct 13 to 16, the championship gathered over 220 teams from 45 countries, offering a highly competitive platform for young enthusiasts to showcase their technical skills in programming, engineering, and problem-solving. Competing against some of the world’s brightest young roboticists, the Sarawakian duo demonstrated exceptional teamwork, technical precision, and determination.

The team was trained by TESSLAB, a robotics training center based in Miri, Sarawak, where the duo underwent intensive preparation in robot design, coding, and tactical competition strategies.

Their participation was sponsored by the Sarawak Government through the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) and the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC)—reflecting the state’s ongoing commitment to fostering young talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Timothy (4th right) and Matthew (5th right) at the RoboMission Junior category at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) 2026 Open Championship Europe, held in Zagreb, Croatia on Oct 16, 2026.

During a post-competition interview, Matthew and Timothy expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Sarawak Government for their support. Their spontaneous appreciation highlighted the real impact of state-backed initiatives in helping young talents pursue their ambitions on the global stage.

This milestone comes as Sarawak continues to strengthen its focus on STEM education, innovation, and talent development to build a highly skilled, technologically capable workforce.

The success of team “Malaysia Boleh” underscores the vital synergy between educational institutions, specialized training hubs, and government bodies in nurturing future innovators. With the right resources, guidance, and opportunities, young Sarawakians continue to prove they can excel alongside the best in the world.—DayakDaily